Increasing working hours will neither benefit industries nor workers: K'taka govt

With some states have already extended the working hours from 8 to 12, the Karnataka government is still mulling over the matter and the final deliberations may come next week. In this regard, state Labour Minister A Shivaram Hebbar said that the government may not extend the working hours, as the move will neither benefit industries nor workers.

Bengaluru: Informing that the Karnataka government may not extend the daily working hours from 8 to 12, state Labour Minister A Shivaram Hebbar said on Saturday that the move will neither benefit the industries nor workers.

Considering that some states have already extended the working hours, Hebbar said that that the proposal has not been discussed and it may come for final deliberations next week.

"In spite of increasing working hours, employment should be given. If there are no jobs, what can be done by extending working hours? If it is done (working hours extended to 12 hours), it would not neither benefit workers nor industries. Let's see what happens, the minister said.

Asked if the government was in favour of the extension, he said, "I don't think it will be ready for the (12 hour) proposal."

Meanwhile, the Minister also said that their top priority now was to see that all MSMEs start operating again, salaries are paid to employees and there are no job losses for any reason.

If industries don't reopen, how can workers get their employment? We should think in parallel, Hebbar said, adding, the government was keeping the interests of both MSMEs and workers in mind.

He urged the Centre to offer a relief package to the MSME sector, saying it is facing very difficult times due to the adverse impact of the COVID-19-induced lockdown, and also noting its role in generating large-scale employment and feeding large industries.

The BJP-led government has done whatever within its limitations to help the MSMEs, he added.

Earlier this week, the Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa announced that the monthly fixed charges of electricity bills of MSMEs would be waived for two months.

"MSMEs have suffered huge production losses due to the lockdown. It will take some time to revive," Yediyurappa had said.

The Chief Minister had also said payment of fixed charges in the electricity bills of the large industries will be deferred without penalty and interest for a period of two months.

PTI