Infosys founder sparks debate urging 70-hour workweek in India; workers and experts challenge impact on well-being, productivity, and gender.
Published Oct 28, 2023 | 10:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 28, 2023 | 5:50 PM
Narayana Murthy's remarks have illuminated the complex interplay between work hours, gender dynamics, and overall well-being in India. (YouTube/iStock)
During a recent appearance at the inaugural episode of 3one4 Capital’s podcast, ‘The Record’, Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy ignited a debate with his call for Indian youngsters to work at least 70 hours a week to compete on a global scale.
“India’s work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. Unless we improve work productivity, reduce corruption in the government, and minimise delays in our bureaucracy when making decisions, we will not be able to compete with those countries that have made tremendous progress. Therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say, ‘This is my country, I want to work 70 hours a week’,” he said.
Murthy’s remarks have not only faced criticism but also illuminated the complex interplay between work hours, gender dynamics, and overall well-being at the workplace in India.
Indians rank among the most overworked individuals on a global scale.
As per a 2021 report from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), India’s minimum statutory wage is one of the lowest worldwide when compared to other countries.
This situation is exacerbated by the fact that Indian workers have minimal leisure time.
The inaugural episode of 3one4 Capital’s podcast, ‘The Record,’ with Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy. (YouTube)
The general secretary of the Union of IT and ITES Employees (UNITE), Alagunambi Welkin, provided insights into the multi-layered issue.
“Narayana Murthy’s advocacy for a relentless work ethic can be traced back to his roots in the IT industry, which bore witness to the practice known as ‘body shopping’,” he told South First.
This term denotes a period when Indian IT firms supplied skilled labour to global corporations, a chapter in the industry that significantly bolstered Murthy’s financial portfolio.
Such financial privilege, Welkin contended, sets Murthy apart from the average middle-class family, giving him a perspective that may not align with the daily concerns of most IT professionals.
Alagunambi Welkin. (Supplied)
From the perspective of the IT workforce and labour unions, Murthy’s exhortation to embrace marathon work weeks may seem far from practical.
These individuals represent the 99 percent of the IT sector who are essentially wage labourers, relying on their salaries to support their families and lifestyles.
“The safety net of substantial wealth to weather unforeseen storms like health issues or disasters is a luxury beyond their reach. Job security is their constant preoccupation, and they often find themselves working well beyond the conventional 10 or 12 hours a day, especially when senior leaders demand it,” contended Welkin.
Raghul Baskar, the joint secretary of the Bank of Baroda Employees Union in Tamil Nadu, offered a perspective on India’s labour laws, anchored in history and the need for modernisation.
Baskar pointed out that the Factories Act of 1948, a product of a bygone era when manual labour was the norm, has remained virtually untouched.
Factories act இன் படி ஒரு நாளைக்கான வேலை நேரம் 9 மணி நேரம்,வாரத்திற்கு 48 மணி நேரம்.
ஒரு நாளைக்கு 9 மணி நேரத்தையோ, வாரத்திற்கு 48 மணி நேரத்தையோ வேலை நேரம் தாண்டினால் overtime வழங்க வேண்டும்.
Overtime என்பது ‘twice of wages’.
இந்த factories act 1881 இல் ஆண்டில் முதன்முதலில் pic.twitter.com/xEE4BxxpHg
— Raghul Baskar (@red2192) October 26, 2023
“Despite the seismic shifts brought by modern technology, the Act retains its original provisions, including a one-day leave per week, even after all these years,” he noted.
In a rapidly evolving workplace, Baskar highlighted the stagnation of worker-centric policies and regulations.
Workers, he contended, continue to toil under the same rules, which no longer reflect the realities of the contemporary workforce.
“There have been recent developments involving major companies like Foxconn and influential figures like Narayan Murthy. The capacity of employers has been shaping government legislation to suit their interests,” he said.
In response, Baskar urgeed trade unions to take up the mantle of change, advocating for reduced working hours and spearheading campaigns that prioritise the welfare and rights of workers.
Santosh Mallareddi, a finance manager, discussed the complex coatings surrounding the controversial proposal of longer work hours for India’s youth.
“A prevailing concern with this idea is that it could shift the focus of the youth from the quality of their work to the sheer number of hours they put in. As work hours become the benchmark, the essence of what work truly means risks being lost,” he said.
24 hours per day (as far as I know)
If you work 6 days a week – 12h per day
Remaining 12h
8 hours sleep
4 hours remain
In a city like Bengaluru
2 hours on road
2 hours remain – Brush, poop, bathe, eat
No time to socialise
No time to talk to family
No time to exercise… https://t.co/dDTKAPfJf8— Dr Deepak Krishnamurthy (@DrDeepakKrishn1) October 27, 2023
Mallareddi deftly highlighted the nuance of the situation.
For those embarking on entrepreneurial journeys or pursuing their dreams, investing 70 hours a week may be a labour of love.
Yet, when corporations adopt this as a standard, it can feel like an imposition on employees, potentially disrupting their work-life balance.
Bengaluru-based Arun Chandran, who worked as a software engineer before setting up his start-up Trycle, spent 70 hours a week for the initial two years of his career.
“I learned a lot, but it definitely had me burnt out in two years.”
The outcome was not pleasant for his physical and mental well-being. And Chandran had to take a break.
I did work 70hours for more than a year while I was in Infosys. Clearly the worst phase of my career. The toll it took on my mental and physical health is so much that I haven’t fully recovered from my backpain n stress fully even now. Indha statement lam paatha pathitu varudhu. https://t.co/6iPeVUKEFS
— Tarara ra ra.. (@Tararararaaaaa) October 27, 2023
But he admitted that the lessons were valuable. However, he realised the quantum of hours and effort that he could afford towards a job, along with grasping the fundamentals of the job itself.
“Nobody expected me to do this. I did it because I liked my work. I used to reach the office around 8.30 am and leave by 11 pm. If one wants to work for 12 hours and there is infrastructural support, in terms of office cab, etc, then it might be possible,” he elaborated. But prioritise and choose wisely, he advised.
Syed Musharraf Hussain, a GOC employee, said that genuine productivity is born when organisations shed the cloak of office politics. He argued that merely enforcing a 70-hour work week doesn’t address the root issue.
Hussain’s personal experience reflects a demanding routine of almost 12 hours dedicated to work, including travel time. He highlighted the pressing responsibilities Indians often bear towards their families, which take precedence over their jobs.
In the face of a 12-hour workday, 1.5 hours of commute, and a mere five hours of sleep, Hussain raised a poignant question: How can individuals be expected to allocate the remaining time to their families, let alone self-care?
Concurring, architect, artist, and heritage historian, Aafreen Fathima SK questioned the feasibility of a 70-hour work week, breaking down the math that leaves the youth with less than eight hours for themselves after factoring in commute times.
The pursuit of increased productivity need not rely solely on extending work hours, according to Aafreen. She advocated for improving employees’ skill sets through workshops and adopting efficient software solutions, enabling them to accomplish more in less time.
Today Mr Narayana Murthy gave anti-Linkedin advice by asking the Youth of our country to work: 70 hours/week!
(That’s a whopping 10 hours/day with 0 days off!)
Some people are defending this by saying: that if our Prime Minister can work 24*7, then why can’t the Youth of our… pic.twitter.com/g4fXpTazZe
— Akshat Shrivastava (@Akshat_World) October 26, 2023
While Aafreen is on board with the idea of India catching up with the world, she expressed reservations about the sustainability of further tightening work schedules in the long run.
“If productivity is the goal, it need not be achieved solely by increasing work hours. We can enhance employees’ skill-sets through workshops and update software to facilitate better work, enabling them to be more efficient in less time,” she said.
Rayana Gouda, a senior data analyst, appreciated the drive to enhance productivity and instill discipline in the workplace. However, Gouda believes the idea has its pitfalls.
Gouda pointed out that a 70-hour work week can lead to severe burnout, ultimately hampering productivity. He emphasised that pushing employees to such extremes often results in diminishing returns and can adversely affect overall output.
In the context of the proposal, Gouda raised a pertinent issue: The current entry-level salaries for freshers in India are notably lower than global market standards in similar economies.
“There are better and more effective ways in which the global economies are adapting to improve employee productivity and their work-life balance which will never be taken into consideration by these companies,” he lamented.
Murthy’s assertion that prolonged work hours are essential for India’s growth raises critical questions about how these expectations affect different segments of the population, especially women.
In a country where gender disparities persist in the workplace, women often bear the brunt of this work culture.
“I believe in working hard, but there’s a point where it becomes unsustainable, especially for women,” said Priyanka Rajan, a software engineer in Chennai.
For Anjani T, a creative and marketing head, her week extends far beyond the conventional 70 hours. It’s not just about fulfilling her employer’s demands; it encompasses self-improvement and community contributions.
With this statement, Mr. Murthy is essentially pushing women out of the workplace.
Men are never going to share the load of housekeeping, caregiving and childrearing. With a 70 hour work week, women will have no choice but to drop out. https://t.co/U9IapSHDZv— Natasha Ramarathnam (@nuts2406) October 26, 2023
Her philosophy revolves around the concept that working on oneself daily ultimately contributes to the nation.
In the context of gender roles and the domestic set-up, she recognised the inherent challenges for women.
“The excessive workload can disproportionately impact women due to traditional gender roles and expectations regarding domestic responsibilities. It may force some women to make difficult choices between their careers and family life. This could hinder their professional advancement,” she pointed out.
“Promoting a balanced approach to work and family life benefits both women and men, enabling them to advance their careers while enjoying satisfying personal lives,” she added.
For working mothers, the challenge of balancing a demanding career with caregiving responsibilities is a daily reality. The call for longer work hours adds an extra layer of complexity to their lives.
“Being a mother and a professional is a constant juggle. Extended work hours make it even harder to meet my family’s needs and expectations,” said Preetha Skandhan, a marketing manager.
Amid this juxtaposition of wealth, gender and privilege, there emerges a cry for balance. Employees yearn for more personal time, a chance to tend to their well-being, and rekindle their skills.
Yet, these needs are often eclipsed by the relentless work hours, forcing them into sacrificing vital aspects of their lives.
From a union’s perspective, a call reverberates for a 30-hour work week and a six-hour workday.
The rationale behind this proposition, Welkin noted, is to allocate employees five hours of personal time. And, five hours of private time, and the indispensable eight hours of sleep.
This personal time, he asserts, is crucial for mental health, physical well-being, and continuous learning.
Historically, long working hours have been perceived as a means to extract maximum productivity. This, without due consideration of their profound social and health consequences.
“In this context, Murthy’s advocacy seems to align with the age-old approach. It prioritisesg productivity while disregarding the broader implications of social and health aspects,” said Raghul.
In this era of Artificial Intelligence’s potential to enhance individual productivity, a growing consensus is forming around the benefits of reduced work hours.
“A six-hour workday, it is believed, can lead to enhanced personal health and foster greater contributions to society,” noted Welkin.
“It remains vital to contemplate the reduction of work hours. There’s also the need for democratisation of the workplace to prevent employees from feeling like bonded labourers. This strategy seeks to safeguard the well-being and rights of workers. It places emphasis on their protection rather than solely serving the profit-maximising interests of large corporations,” added Raghul.
