K.V. Seetharamaiah
Infosys founder Narayana Murthy has suggested that the youth work for 70 hours a week. It means 10 hours per day. If it is 6-day week, the average working hours would be 11.67 and if it is 5-day week the average working hours would be 14. The intention of Narayana Murthy is above suspicion. Because he is the one who has worked hard to come upto his present level. Controversial “Ahimsa” Chetan pooh-poohed the suggestion. He has ridiculed Murthy saying “let the youth work for more hours and let there be increase in your bank balance”. Chetan is known to promote enmity among people. With ‘Ahimsa’ as his prefix, he has made mockery of the word. Narayana Murthy and his wife Sudha Murthy are never after money. Sudha Murthy has donated large sums of money whenever need arose both in times of natural calamities and for charitable purposes. Murthy has never come in the way of his wife while donating the money for public cause. Therefore, the criticism of ‘Ahimsa’ Chetan lacks substance.
The 10-hour work per day fatigues the employees. If the suggestion of Murthy has to be implemented, the employees have to choose 10 working hours per day without a weekly holiday, 6-day week at 11.67 per day and 5-day week at 14 per day. The Labour Act does not permit for no-weekly holiday. Then the choice is between 6-day week and 5-day week. Excessive working hours would place heavy stress on mind and body of the working class. The time left for them to spend with their family members, attend the domestic functions and domestic work would be very meagre. Health-care takes back-seat. Higher the working hours, lower would be the quality performance. At present the working hours in private companies are 48 hours per week. It means 8 hours per day in case of 6-day week and 9.6 hours per day in case of 5-day week. The employees are entitled for overtime payment if the work is extracted for period beyond 48 hours per week. In so far as work in the government department offices is concerned, the working hours are 6.75 per day. The average working hours of 6.75 per day in a year further falls if the government holidays are taken into consideration. More than the need for increased working hours, there is need to put each of the working days into full productive use.