Proposal on increasing work hours in Karnataka likely to be referred to Cabinet

Karnataka government proposes to increase work hours, facing opposition from trade unions, amid discussions for Cabinet approval.

The proposal by the Karnataka government to increase work hours from nine to 10 hours daily and also allow increased overtime work is likely to be referred to the Cabinet before any decision is taken. This comes amid opposition from the Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU) that represents eight trade unions in the State and the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union to the move.

Based on a direction from the Centre that has asked the States to simplify the Act and rules that govern the working hours, the Labour Department circulated a draft copy of the Bill to amend the Karnataka Shops and Establishments Act, 1961, seeking to increase daily working hours and also increase the cap on overtime work. IT and ITeS companies, offices, pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, and malls, among many others that offer commercial services, come under the purview of the Act.

Even as Labour Secretary Rohini Sindhuri on Wednesday met stakeholders where opinions in favour of and against the proposed amendment were received from employers’ organisations and trade unions, Labour Minister Santosh Lad told The Hindu that there would be more consultation on the issue.

“The discussions started after Manoj Joshi (Secretary, Union Department of Land Resources) gave a presentation to the Chief Secretary to increase work hours to 10 hours and on ease of doing business,” the Minister said. “We had called a meeting to elicit opinion on the proposal. We will also apply our minds. We will once again call the stakeholders’ meeting.”

Indicating that the matter could go to Cabinet, Mr. Lad said, “We will take a call after seeking concurrence of the Chief Minister and all Cabinet colleagues. No decision has been made yet. Any decision, which will be taken, will be helpful to the working class.”

The changes in labour laws that have been moved by the Centre and implemented already in some BJP-governed States are being discussed in Karnataka. The State has also set up a task force following a meeting on ‘Compliance reduction and deregulation’ being pushed by the Centre, to implement suggestions.

Apart from suggesting an increase in daily work hours to 10 from the current nine hours, the proposed amendment to the Act seeks to allow an increase in daily overtime work from one hour to two hours, allow an increase in overtime hours in three continuous months from 50 hours to 144 hours.