Hundreds of IT employees gathered at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on March 9, demanding an end to excessive working hours, unpaid overtime, and the lack of legal protections in the industry.
Organized by the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees’ Union (KITU), the protest saw workers holding red flags and placards with bold messages such as “We are not your slaves” and “A healthy work-life balance is every employee’s right.”
The protesters called for strict enforcement of labor laws, the removal of the IT sector’s exemption from the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, and legal protection against after-hours work expectations—a provision that countries like Australia, France, and Spain have already implemented.
Many employees shared their struggles, highlighting the pressure to be available beyond official working hours. Aswin, an IT worker and KITU member, said, “Work doesn’t end when we log off; there’s always an expectation to be available. If you don’t respond to messages after hours, you risk being seen as uncooperative or less committed. This constant pressure takes a toll on our mental health and personal lives.” Another union member, Ram, emphasized the need for collective action, stating, “If employees do not unite, even the best laws will remain unenforced.”
A major concern raised was the disproportionate impact of excessive working hours on women in the IT sector. KITU Vice-President Rashmi Choudhary remarked, “We already work 14-16 hours a day and then return home to unpaid labor. When corporate leaders advocate for 70-hour workweeks, it’s a clear signal of what they intend to normalize. If the government doesn’t intervene, this will become our reality.” Her statement was a direct response to Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and L&T’s SN Subrahmanyan, who recently suggested that Indian employees must work longer hours to boost productivity.
As a symbolic act of protest, demonstrators attempted to burn effigies of Murthy and Subrahmanyan, but Bengaluru police intervened, leading to a mild altercation between union members and authorities. Following intense sloganeering and heated exchanges, the protesters convinced the police that burning the placards was a legitimate form of dissent. The demonstration continued, with KITU General Secretary Suhas Adiga condemning the toxic work culture in the IT sector and calling for immediate government intervention.
The protest came amid growing concerns over a proposed amendment to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, which seeks to increase the maximum daily working hours from 12 to 14. IT employees fear this amendment will further normalize exploitative work conditions. Ram Kumar, a software engineer, warned, “If this amendment goes through, employees won’t have a choice; they will be forced to comply.”
Hundreds of IT employees stood firm in their demand for urgent action to regulate their industry. Without concrete legal protections, they argued, exploitative work conditions would continue unchecked, making it harder for employees to maintain personal well-being and job security. The protest marked a growing frustration among tech workers, highlighting the need for immediate reforms to safeguard their rights.
