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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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
