The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees’ Union (KITU) organized a massive protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on 10 March. Under the banner “Right to disconnect”, hundreds of IT professionals gathered, to raise their voice against their severe exploitation, long working hours, unrealistic work targets and grave job insecurity. They expressed their anger by burning effigies of top monopoly capitalists who are advocating 70 hours and 90 hours working week. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Narayana Murthy and Subrahmanyan, we will burn your greed on the streets; we are workers, not slaves!”.
The agitating IT workers pointed out that while the IT industry in India is one of the industries that makes the highest profits for the capitalist owners, many IT professionals are forced to work 12-14 hours a day without any overtime, including on weekends. They face terrible job insecurity due to mass layoffs, euphemistically referred to as “performance-based terminations”. Consequently, mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, are on the rise. 45% of IT employees face mental health crises while 55 % face physical health problems. Women IT workers face rampant gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and insecurity at the workplace.
The protesting workers demanded strict implementation of the 8 hour workday; inclusion of IT workers under labour laws to safeguard job security; holding the IT companies accountable for unpaid overtime, arbitrary layoffs, and unsafe working conditions; legal protection allowing employees to refuse after working hours communication with the company, without the threat of punitive action.
KITU, has been at the forefront of advocating for IT employees’ rights. On 13 March, 2024, the union had submitted a memorandum to the Labour Minister, explaining how IT/ITeS companies routinely violate labour laws by arbitrarily extending working hours without overtime compensation. However, the government has taken no steps to regulate their working hours or ensure protection against arbitrary layoffs. The 10 March protest was a part of the broad movement by IT workers in various parts of the country against their severe exploitation and job insecurity.