The IT and ITES Democratic Employees Association (IIDEA) has strongly opposed the proposed Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill 2025, calling it a pro-corporate move that strips away critical worker protections. The association criticised the Bill for exempting establishments with fewer than 10 employees from maintaining statutory records and displaying notices, warning that this will worsen exploitation in startups where violations are already routine.
IIDEA said the amendment ignores the harsh realities faced by IT and ITES workers, who are regularly forced to work long hours without overtime pay. Remote workers, in particular, face 24/7 on-call expectations without a legal “Right to Disconnect.” Even requests for timestamp records to claim overtime are denied, often resulting in withheld wages.
While other countries are moving towards shorter workweeks, India continues to overwork its employees. Citing ILO data, IIDEA noted that over 51% of Indian workers log more than 49 hours per week. The health consequences are severe - including stroke and heart disease and overwork reduces productivity, according to global studies.
IIDEA also highlighted how the Karnataka government had earlier exempted the IT sector from the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, effectively removing workers' rights to clear terms of employment. The current Bill, it warned, deepens that lack of transparency.
The association has demanded the complete withdrawal of the proposed amendments, enforcement of existing labour laws, legal protection for disconnecting after hours, and reversal of the IT sector’s exemption from standing orders. It also called for a Rs. 41,000 minimum wage, 20% annual increment, location-based HRA, and full salary transparency.
According to IIDEA, the government must consult with trade unions and stop enabling a corporate model that thrives on overwork, insecurity, and the erosion of basic dignity for India’s tech workforce.
