IT Employees Burn Murthy, L&T Chief’s Effigies for Proposing Longer Workweeks
The IT industry in Bengaluru, Karnataka, has been in an uproar lately, with employees protesting against exploitative work practices. The latest development in this saga is the burning of effigies of Infosys Founder Narayana Murthy and L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan by IT employees in the city. This move is a strong statement against the proposed longer workweeks by these industry leaders.
The protest was led by the Karnataka IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU), which represents thousands of IT employees in the state. The union has been vocal about the struggles faced by IT employees, including long working hours, low salaries, and lack of job security.
The incident occurred on a recent evening when a group of IT employees gathered at the KITU office in Bengaluru. They carried effigies of Narayana Murthy and SN Subrahmanyan, who had recently made comments that sparked outrage among IT employees.
In a recent interview, Narayana Murthy had suggested that IT employees should work 70-hour workweeks to stay competitive in the industry. This comment was met with widespread criticism, with many employees taking to social media to express their discontent.
Similarly, SN Subrahmanyan, the Chairman of Larsen & Toubro (L&T), had also proposed that employees should work 90 hours a week to meet the demands of the industry. His comment was seen as an affront to the well-being of IT employees, who already work long hours without adequate compensation or benefits.
The IT employees, who were protesting against these comments, decided to take a bold step by burning the effigies of Murthy and Subrahmanyan. Despite attempts by the Bengaluru Police to stop them, the employees went ahead with their plan.
The police had set up barricades around the KITU office, but the employees managed to break through them and reach the spot where the effigies were kept. The burning of the effigies was a symbol of the employees’ frustration and anger against the industry leaders who they feel are out of touch with the reality of their working conditions.
The protest was peacefully conducted, with no reports of violence or damage to property. The employees chanted slogans and waved flags, demanding better working conditions and fair compensation.
The Karnataka IT/ITeS Employees Union has been at the forefront of the struggle against exploitative work practices in the IT industry. The union has been demanding better wages, improved working conditions, and job security for IT employees.
The burning of the effigies of Murthy and Subrahmanyan is a significant development in this struggle. It shows that IT employees are no longer willing to tolerate the exploitation and mistreatment that they have faced for so long.
The incident has also sparked a wider debate about the working conditions in the IT industry. Many employees have taken to social media to share their own experiences of long working hours, low salaries, and lack of job security.
The Karnataka government has also taken notice of the situation and has promised to take steps to address the concerns of IT employees. The government has announced plans to set up a committee to look into the working conditions in the IT industry and make recommendations for improvement.
In conclusion, the burning of the effigies of Narayana Murthy and SN Subrahmanyan is a powerful statement against the exploitative work practices in the IT industry. IT employees in Bengaluru have made it clear that they will no longer tolerate the mistreatment and exploitation that they have faced for so long.
The incident is a wake-up call for the industry leaders who need to take a more nuanced approach to the working conditions of IT employees. It is time for them to listen to the concerns of employees and work towards creating a more equitable and fair work environment.
