New Delhi: Various IT companies In Karnataka they have been criticised for asking for the state government extend the daily working day from 12 to 14 hours.
IT companies request that their proposal be incorporated into the Karnataka Review Shops and Commercial Establishments Law1961. This proposal aims to legally extend the work The law states that the maximum permitted working day is 12 hours, i.e. 12 hours plus two hours of overtime. According to the report, the state government is also considering amending the law. Currently, labour laws allow up to 12 hours of work, which consists of 10 hours plus two hours of overtime.
The Karnataka State IT Employees Union (KITU) has expressed strong opposition to the proposal. They are concerned that the amendment could allow companies to bypass the current three-shift system to a two-shift system, which could lead to job losses for a third of the workforce.
Later, the National Software Association and Services Companies (Nasscom) said it does not support the bill.
Doctor condemns the bill
In a lengthy and detailed post, Dr Sudhir Kumar, a physician from Hyderabad, spoke about the bill and highlighted the myriad side effects of overwork.
He explained that in a day that only has 24 hours, if employees work 14 hours (plus an additional 1-2 hours for commuting), how can they find time for sleep and exercise, let alone family time?
A healthy life requires sleeping 7 to 8 hours each night. People who sleep less than 6 hours are at higher risk of overweight, obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, cancer, mental illness and premature death. Working 14 hours a day would inevitably lead to sleep deprivation and the associated health risks.
For a healthy life, 300 minutes of physical activity is recommended per week, which translates to 60 minutes daily for five days. A recent study by The Lancet found that about 50 percent of Indians do not engage in regular (adequate) physical activity. Imposing 14-hour work days would exacerbate this problem, making it almost impossible to find time to exercise.
Lack of work-life balance can affect your health
It’s not for nothing that phrases like “working yourself to death” exist! Inhuman working hours are detrimental to overall well-being. There are numerous ways in which overwork can negatively affect health. Overworking increases levels of cortisol, the main stress hormone, which can lead to brain fog, hypertension, and other health problems.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that longer working hours contributed to 745,000 people dying from stroke and ischemic heart disease in 2016, marking a 29 percent increase since 2000. The study found that people who worked 55 or more hours per week faced a 35 percent higher risk of stroke and a 17 percent higher risk of dying from ischemic heart disease compared to those who worked 35 to 40 hours per week.
Although overwork is a global problem, authorities in Asian countries, particularly Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, have shown great concern. In Japan, the term “karoshi”, meaning “death from overwork”, highlights the seriousness of this problem.
Researchers have linked karoshi to several health problems, including stroke and cardiovascular disease. Overwork has also been associated with other life-threatening conditions, including cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and chronic diseases such as heart disease, certain types of cancer, arthritis, chronic lung disease, and hypertension.
