Narayana Murthy Advocates for Increased Work Hours to Propel India’s Economic Growth
In a recent statement, Narayana Murthy, the founder of Indian technology giant Infosys, emphasized the need for Indian youth to work longer hours, specifically advocating for a 70-hour workweek. Murthy believes that such an extended workweek is essential for India to remain competitive with economies that have experienced significant growth in recent decades.
Murthy’s proposed 70-hour workweek translates to either 12-hour shifts for a six-day workweek or 14-hour shifts for a five-day workweek. During a discussion on 3one4 Capital’s podcast ‘The Record,’ where he conversed with former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai, Murthy delved into various topics, including nation-building and technology.
One key point made by Murthy is the current low level of work productivity in India compared to the rest of the world. He argued that to compete with countries like China, India’s workforce would need to put in more hours. He cited examples of post-World War II Germany and Japan, where long work hours were a crucial component of their economic recovery and success.
It’s important to note that Murthy’s call for extended work hours comes at a time when certain segments of the Indian workforce are expressing concerns about burnout due to long working hours and the absence of employee-friendly labor laws, which can lead to exploitation.
