
Karnataka's 10-hour workday: Will it impact work-life balance?
The proposed amendment, circulated by the Labour Department among the stakeholders to elicit their response, allows work hours to be increased to 10 a day and 48 a week. The proposal caps the total number of hours of work, including overtime, to 12 hours a day — up from the present 10 hours a day.
We spoke to working professionals in Bengaluru to know what they think about the amendment.
Reporting: Sharath Srivatsa
Video: Ravichandran N, Vivek MV
Editing: Ravichandran N
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Deccan Herald
18-07-2025
- Deccan Herald
Committed to welfare of unorganised workers: Minister Santosh Lad
Gadag: Labour Minister Santosh Lad has said that the government is committed to improving the quality of life of unorganised sector workers, who make up around 90% of India's working population and 82% in the state. As part of this effort, the Labour Department is distributing smart cards to provide social security to these was speaking at an awareness and smart card distribution programme for unorganised workers held at the Vivekananda Hall here on Friday. The event was organised jointly by the Labour Department, Karnataka Unorganised Workers' Social Security Board, Transport Department, District Administration, and Zilla Panchayat.'Under the Ambedkar Karmika Sahaya Hasta Scheme, 91 categories of unorganised workers have been identified, accounting for around 30 to 40 lakh workers in the state. These workers are being registered for free and issued smart cards, ensuring that government welfare schemes reach them. We need to create widespread awareness to ensure these benefits are availed,' said the further highlighted that nearly 50% of those dying in accidents are aged between 18 and 45 years. 'To reduce such fatalities, wearing helmets and following traffic rules must be made mandatory,' he also mentioned that the Karnataka Motor Transport and Other Allied Workers Social Security and Welfare Board covers drivers, conductors, cleaners, and depot staff working in the logistics sector. Under this scheme, families of workers who die in accidents will receive a compensation of Rs 5 lakh, in addition to a phased implementation of other social security schemes, he informed.'More funding is essential for labour welfare. We have requested the Chief Minister to impose a special cess on petrol and diesel. This could generate hundreds of crores of rupees for the welfare of unorganised workers,' he distributionOn the occasion, the minister symbolically distributed 25 smart cards, four accident compensation cheques, and one cheque under the Ashadeepa scheme to unorganised workers from the Workers Social Security Board Joint Secretary and Joint Labour Commissioner S B Ravikumar read the Preamble to the Constitution and explained the various government schemes available to Development Authority Chairman Akbarsab Babarji, District-level Guarantee Scheme Implementation Authority Chairman B B Asuti, Taluk-level Chairman Ashok Mandali, Deputy Commissioner C N Sridhar, ZP CEO Bharat S, SP Rohan Jagadeesh, Krishna Gowda H Patil, Labour Officer Shreeshail Somanakatti, and Assistant Labour Commissioner Sachin Y Halemani were present.A total of 1,548 smart cards were distributed to unorganised workers across different sectors in Gadag district.

The Hindu
18-07-2025
- The Hindu
Ambedkar Karmika Sahaya Hastha Scheme to benefit 91 categories of unorganised labourers, says Santosh Lad
Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh S. Lad said on Friday that the Ambedkar Karmik Sahayahasta Yojane, launched under the Karnataka State Unorganised Workers Social Security Board, will benefit workers from 91 categories of the unorganised sector across the state. Speaking at a public awareness and smart card distribution event, jointly held by the Labour Department, Karnataka State Unorganised Workers Social Security Board, the Department of Transport, the District Administration, and the Zilla Panchayat, at Madhushree Garden in Koppal city, the Minister said that that nearly 98% of India's workforce was in the unorganised sector, around 83% to 85% of Karnataka's workforce falls in this category. 'As many as 1.6 crore unorganised workers have registered in the state. We are extending many of the benefits available to construction workers to those in the unorganised sector through this scheme. These include accident insurance, maternity benefits, scholarship for children, and pension support,' Mr. Lad said. He added that online-registered gig workers on platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy and Zomato were also being brought under the ambit of this scheme. 'Under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, we have introduced a first-of-its-kind Act to safeguard the rights of gig workers. Additionally, the new Cine Bill benefits artists working in film, theatre, makeup, dance, and cultural activities in rural areas,' he noted. Under the Ashadeepa scheme, if SC/ST youth are given employment in small companies, the Labour Department reimburses the ESI and PF contributions for two years. 'Such initiatives help local employment while also supporting small enterprises,' he said. He further informed that salaries of outsourced workers across departments will now be routed through registered cooperative societies instead of private agencies. The Minister also distributed smart cards to over 91 workers, issued reimbursement cheques under the Ashadeepa scheme for ESI and PF contributions, and handed over ₹10,000 scholarship cheques to children of private transport drivers. Information stalls were set up at the venue to spread awareness about various labour welfare schemes. Senior dignitaries present included Srinivas Gupta, president of Koppal Urban Development Authority; Reddy Srinivas, Chairman of Koppal District Guarantee Schemes Implementation Authority; Nagaraj Mundargi, State president of the Dr. Babu Jagjivan Ram Leather Industrial Development Corporation; Koppal Deputy Commissioner Suresh B. Itnal; CEO of the Zilla Panchayat Varnit Negi; Superintendent of Police Ram L. Arasiddi; Regional Labour Commissioner Venkatesh Shindihatti; Assistant Labour Commissioner for Kalaburagi Division Mohammed Basheer Ansari; and Assistant Commissioner Mahesh Malagatti. municipal councillors Gururaj Several representatives of labour unions, unorganised workers from across the district, and staff of the Labour Department were also present.


Time of India
06-07-2025
- Time of India
Telangana allows 10-hour workdays for commercial establishments; overtime pay applicable beyond 48 hours
The Telangana government has approved a key change to labour regulations, allowing commercial establishments (excluding shops) to increase daily working hours from the current 8 hours to 10 hours, as per TOI. However, the move comes with strict conditions, including a cap of 48 working hours per week and mandatory overtime pay for additional hours. The order, issued on Saturday by M Dana Kishore, Principal Secretary of the Labour Department, will take effect from July 8, following its publication in the official gazette. While extending daily working hours, the government has retained the 48-hour weekly ceiling, meaning employers will have to reduce working hours later in the week if employees are asked to work longer hours earlier. Any work done beyond this limit will require employers to pay overtime wages, the notification clarified. The order is seen as part of Telangana's effort to align with the Centre's push for 'ease of doing business' and mirrors similar moves by other states, including Andhra Pradesh , which raised its daily limit from nine to ten hours last month. Breaks and maximum daily limits To safeguard worker welfare, the state has mandated that no employee can be made to work more than six hours at a stretch without a minimum rest interval of 30 minutes. Additionally, the total duration of work, including breaks, must not exceed 12 hours in a day. Live Events Further, employees may be asked to work more than 48 hours a week, but only with overtime pay and subject to a maximum of 144 hours in a quarter. Employers violating these conditions risk having their exemption revoked without prior notice, the order warned. Factory work hours may be next Labour department officials told The Times of India that the state is also considering a similar extension for factory workers. 'Many states are contemplating making the change following a directive from the Centre to promote ease of doing business,' an official said. The changes have sparked debate, with some industry players welcoming the flexibility and others raising concerns about employee wellbeing. A poll accompanying the announcement asked the public whether they support the change, with responses likely to influence future decisions, particularly if the government extends these rules to factories. With the order set to take effect in just a few days, commercial establishments, especially those in the hospitality, IT, and ITeS sectors, are expected to begin adjusting their internal schedules and HR policies accordingly. With inputs from TOI Economic Times WhatsApp channel )