Increasing working hours to 10 is unscientific, says Labour Minister Santosh Lad
Bengaluru: Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad has expressed strong opposition to the central government’s proposal to increase the daily working hours of employees from 9 to 10 hours, calling the move unscientific and impractical.
Speaking at a press conference at Vikasa Soudha on Thursday, the minister said that the Union Labour Ministry had sent a proposal to all states to amend the 1961 Karnataka Shops and Establishments Act to extend the working hours. However, he clarified that the Karnataka government will first gather feedback from workers before taking any decision.
“The state believes in equal policy opportunities. While we do have provisions for additional work hours when necessary, in most progressive countries, there is no pressure on workers to extend working hours. But in India, such pressure has been increasing,” he noted.
Citing Bengaluru as an example, Lad pointed out that workers often spend up to two hours commuting between home and office. “Considering such issues, increasing working hours further is not reasonable,” he said.
The minister further stated that if workers voluntarily agree to the extended hours, the rule may be implemented selectively in certain companies or sectors.
“We will issue guidelines accordingly. However, if workers face stress or problems, they are free to file complaints with the Labour Department. We will then investigate and take appropriate legal action,” he assured.
Reacting to reports that India’s largest IT firm, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), plans to reduce its workforce by 2% by the 2026 financial year, Lad said, “We will talk to the company. If complaints arise, we will take them seriously.”
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Woman robbed of gold jewellery worth Rs 3.35 lakh in Beed
Beed (PTI): A woman was robbed of gold jewellery worth Rs 3.35 lakh at Kaij bus station in Beed district, a police official said on Monday.
The incident took place on Sunday evening when Ashwini Gholve, a resident of Teacher Colony, was boarding a bus for Nashik, he added.
"An unidentified woman opened the victim's handbag and fled with gold jewellery worth Rs 3.35 lakh that was a kept in a box. The victim was on her way to attend her brother's wedding. The stolen items include a one 'tola' gold ring, a gold mangalsutra, a ring and a pair of earrings weighing 5 gram each," he said.
"The suspect is seen in footage from one of the CCTV cameras in the vicinity. She was with a minor girl. Further probe into the case is underway," the Kaij police station official added.
