IT Employees Burn Murthy, L&T Chief’s Effigies for Proposing Longer Workweeks
In a bold protest against exploitative work practices, IT employees in Bengaluru, Karnataka, burnt effigies of Infosys Founder Narayana Murthy and L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan on Saturday. The protest was organized by KITU, an IT employees’ union in Karnataka, to express their discontent against the proposal of longer workweeks by the two industry leaders.
As per reports, Murthy had suggested that employees should work 70-hour workweeks, while Subrahmanyan proposed that employees should work 90 hours a week. The proposals sent shockwaves across the IT industry, with many employees expressing their outrage and frustration on social media.
Despite the Bengaluru Police’s attempts to stop them, the protesters, led by KITU, went ahead with their plan to burn the effigies. The event took place in front of the Karnataka State IT/ITes Association (KSITA) office, where a large crowd of IT employees had gathered to express their solidarity with the protest.
The protesters, holding placards and banners with slogans like “No to 70-hour workweeks” and “Respect Employee Rights,” shouted anti-government and anti-industry slogans, demanding better working conditions and fair compensation for their hard work.
“We are not asking for the moon. We are asking for a decent work-life balance and respect for our human rights,” said a protester, who wished to remain anonymous. “We are tired of being treated as machines and not as human beings. We demand better from our employers and the government.”
The protest gained momentum as more and more IT employees joined the rally, chanting slogans and waving their hands in the air. The atmosphere was tense, with the police present at the scene trying to maintain order and prevent any untoward incidents.
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, Kamal Pant, appealed to the protesters to maintain peace and order, adding that the police were committed to ensuring that the protest was carried out peacefully.
The protest is seen as a major blow to the industry leaders, who were hoping to push through their proposals without facing any opposition. The IT sector has been facing declining growth rates in recent years, and many experts believe that longer workweeks could be the solution to boost productivity and competitiveness.
However, the employees are not convinced. They believe that longer workweeks would only lead to burnout and demotivation, and that the industry leaders are more concerned with increasing profits than with the well-being of their employees.
The protest is also seen as a sign of growing resentment among IT employees against the industry’s exploitative practices. Many employees have been working long hours for years, without seeing any significant increase in their salaries or benefits.
The Karnataka government has been criticized for its lack of action on employee welfare issues, with many experts accusing the government of being complicit in the exploitation of IT employees.
The protest is a wake-up call for the industry leaders and the government, highlighting the need for urgent reforms and a more employee-centric approach. As the IT sector continues to evolve and grow, it is crucial that the industry leaders and the government prioritize the well-being and rights of the employees.
