Narayana Murthy’s comment on work hours sparks debate online; here's what he said
Bengaluru: Infosys founder NR Narayan Murthy’s comment that youngsters in India should work at least 70 hours a week in order to compete with developed countries that have made tremendous progress has sparked a massive debate online.
Speaking to former Infosys CEO Mohandas Pai on a podcast about the vision for the next 10, 15 years, the 77-year-old had suggested youngsters work at least 70 hours per week.
He said, "India's work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. Unless we improve our work productivity, unless we reduce corruption in the government at some level, because we have been reading, I don't know the truth of it, unless we reduce the delays in our bureaucracy in taking this decision, we will not be able to compete with those countries that have made tremendous progress. So therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say 'this is my country. I'd like to work 70 hours a week."
While many CEOs, founders, and others in various organisations supported Murthy's view on social media, others disagreed with him. Many slammed Murthy for not being considerate of the work-life balance and the mental health of employees.
Ronnie Screwvala, founder of upGrad and UTV motion pictures wrote, “Boosting productivity isn't just about working longer hours. It's about getting better at what you do - Upskilling, having a positive work environment and fair pay for the work done. Quality of work done > clocking in more hours.”
Suryakant Waghmore, professor of sociology at IIT Bombay asked, “To ensure a dignified life for workers Ambedkar brought the 8-hour workweek in 1942. It’s hardly implemented. Now.. Narayana Murthy wants to formalise 70 hours per week. What else? pure-vegetarianism, endogamy and women as slaves?”
Another user expressed disagreement saying, “With this statement, Mr. Murthy is essentially pushing women out of the workplace. Men are never going to share the load of housekeeping, caregiving and childrearing. With a 70 hour work week, women will have no choice but to drop out.”
On the other hand, Bhavish Aggarwal, Ola Cabs co-founder supported Murthy’s view. He wrote, “Totally agree with Mr Murthy’s views. It’s not our moment to work less and entertain ourselves. Rather it’s our moment to go all in and build in 1 generation what other countries have built over many generations!”
Former CEO of Prasar Bharathi, Shashi Shekhar Vempati also supported Murthy. He said, “Mr Murthy's comments on hard work have a context. As a young Infoscion in the late 1990s, I remember the missionary zeal with which we put in extra hours, not because it was work but because we were literally making history as Indian IT firms became global brands. Quantum leaps of that nature happen when you make it about a larger goal/purpose and believe in it with a zeal and passion where the number of hours become secondary. This is the context with which the remarks by Mr Murthy need to be understood.”
Infosys' Narayana Murthy wants youngsters to toil 70 hours a week for pittence to make billionaires like him more richer. https://t.co/edyWtEi6FP
— Ravi Nair (@t_d_h_nair) October 26, 2023
With this statement, Mr. Murthy is essentially pushing women out of the workplace.
— Natasha Ramarathnam (@nuts2406) October 26, 2023
Men are never going to share the load of housekeeping, caregiving and childrearing. With a 70 hour work week, women will have no choice but to drop out. https://t.co/U9IapSHDZv
Boosting productivity isn't just about working longer hours. It's about getting better at what you do - Upskilling, having a positive work environment and fair pay for the work done.
— Ronnie Screwvala (@RonnieScrewvala) October 26, 2023
Quality of work done > clocking in more hours https://t.co/mbEQA0TriA
To ensure a dignified life for workers Ambedkar brought the 8-hour workweek in 1942. It’s hardly implemented.
— Suryakant Waghmore (@Suryakant_Waghm) October 27, 2023
Now.. Narayana Murthy wants to formalise 70 hours per week per week.
What else?
pure-vegetarianianism, endogamy and women as slaves?
Hypocrisy of Narayana Murthy#Infosys #indu pic.twitter.com/Yol2PxpNJe
— 👑Che_ಕೃಷ್ಣ🇮🇳💛❤️ (@ChekrishnaCk) October 27, 2023
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
TMC hits out at Rahul Gandhi for remarks over Kolkata medic's rape-murder
Kolkata, Aug 14: The TMC on Wednesday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor here, contending that he should keep in mind the “dismal track record” of women’s safety during previous Congress governments at the Centre.
Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had earlier in the day said the attempt to save the accused instead of providing justice to the victim raises serious questions on the hospital and the local administration.
The entire country is shocked by the gruesome incident of rape and murder of the junior doctor in Kolkata, said the former Congress president, adding there is an atmosphere of insecurity among the doctors' community and women with the revelations about the manner of the cruel and inhuman act against her.
"The attempt to save the accused instead of providing justice to the victim raises serious questions on the hospital and the local administration," Gandhi said in a post on X in Hindi.
Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh dubbed the allegations as baseless.
“Before making such remarks, he should check and cross-check facts. He must not forget the dismal track record regarding women’s safety during the Rajiv Gandhi (former PM) regime and (previous) Congress governments at the Centre,” Ghosh said.
The body of the woman postgraduate trainee was found inside a seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on the morning of August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday in connection with the crime.
The Calcutta High Court had on Tuesday ordered the transfer of the probe into the alleged rape and murder of the trainee doctor from the Kolkata Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
