A proposal by the Karnataka government to extend the daily work limit to 12 hours has sparked a wave of online sarcasm, with social media users linking it to Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy’s earlier suggestion that Indian youth should work 70 hours a week.
The proposed amendments to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, and associated rules, aim to increase the daily working hour limit from 9 to 10, and permit up to 12 hours a day with overtime. Additionally, the permissible overtime cap over a three-month period may be raised from 50 hours to 144 hours.
While the move is being promoted as a way to ease business operations in sectors such as IT and services, civil society groups and labour unions have expressed alarm, citing concerns about employee rights and mental health.
On social media, however, the focus shifted to Murthy, who had stirred national debate last year by advocating for a 70-hour workweek. “Narayana Murthy’s long- cherished dream has finally come true,” one user posted on X (formerly Twitter). Another quipped, “Karnataka should just call them Narayana Murthy Hours.” A particularly viral meme read: “Narayana Murthy side mein naach raha he (Murthy must be dancing on the sidelines).”
If implemented, the draft policy could make Karnataka one of the first states in India to formally allow such extended working hours. The move comes at a time when global conversations are increasingly focused on work-life balance and mental health, making the proposal appear all the more ironic.
Although Narayana Murthy has no direct link to the current policy, his earlier remarks about a 70-hour workweek continue to influence the debate. As critics raise concerns over its impact on labour rights, the surge of memes and satire online reflects growing public discontent.