IT Employees Burn Murthy, L&T Chief’s Effigies for Proposing Longer Workweeks
The ongoing debate about work-life balance in the IT industry has taken a new turn in Bengaluru. A group of IT employees, affiliated with the Karnataka IT/ITeS (KITU), a union that represents IT employees in Karnataka, recently staged a protest against the exploitative work practices prevalent in the sector. The protest took an unusual turn when the employees, despite attempts by the Bengaluru Police to stop them, burnt effigies of two prominent industry leaders, Infosys Founder Narayana Murthy and L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan.
The spark for the protest was ignited by the recent comments made by Murthy and Subrahmanyan, who suggested that IT employees should be willing to work longer hours, up to 70 and 90 hours a week, respectively. While both leaders claimed that their suggestions were aimed at increasing productivity and competitiveness, many IT employees saw it as a blatant attempt to exploit them further.
The protest, which was held in front of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission building in Bengaluru, saw a large turnout of IT employees from various companies, including Infosys, Wipro, and TCS. The employees, dressed in their formal attire, carried placards and banners with slogans like “No to Exploitation” and “We Want a Better Life”.
As the protest gained momentum, the Bengaluru Police arrived at the scene to try and disperse the crowd. However, the employees remained resolute and continued to protest, demanding better working conditions and a more reasonable work-life balance.
It was then that the employees decided to take their protest to the next level by burning effigies of Murthy and Subrahmanyan. The act of burning effigies is a common form of protest in India, particularly during festivals like Dussehra and Diwali. In this case, the IT employees used it to send a strong message to the industry leaders and the government that they would no longer tolerate exploitative practices.
The police, who were present at the scene, attempted to stop the employees from burning the effigies, but they were unsuccessful. The employees managed to set the effigies ablaze, despite the efforts of the police to intervene.
The protest and the subsequent burning of effigies received widespread attention on social media, with many people expressing their support for the IT employees. The hashtag #NotMyBoss trended on Twitter, with many people sharing their own horror stories of working long hours in the IT industry.
The incident has also sparked a debate about the working conditions in the IT industry, which is often touted as one of the most coveted and lucrative sectors in the country. While many IT companies offer high salaries and benefits to their employees, the industry is known for its demanding work culture, which often leaves employees with little time for personal life.
The government of Karnataka has also been criticized for not doing enough to regulate the IT industry and protect the rights of its employees. Many experts argue that the government’s failure to implement labor laws and regulations has led to a culture of exploitation in the industry.
In response to the protest, Infosys has issued a statement saying that it values the well-being of its employees and provides various benefits and facilities to ensure their health and happiness. L&T has also issued a statement saying that it respects the rights of its employees and provides a safe and healthy work environment.
While the incident may have caused a stir in the IT industry, it is clear that the employees will no longer tolerate exploitative practices and demand better working conditions and a more reasonable work-life balance. The government and industry leaders must take note of the growing discontent among IT employees and take steps to address their concerns.
