Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has taken a jibe at L&T chairman Subrahmanyan’s controversial suggestion of a 90-hour workweek, expressing his disagreement during a speech at the inauguration of the new Congress headquarters in Delhi. While Kharge thanked L&T for constructing the building, he humorously addressed the chairman’s work-related comments, invoking the principles of Jawaharlal Nehru and BR Ambedkar.
Kharge’s Response to L&T Chairman’s Remarks
During the inauguration ceremony at the party’s new headquarters at 9A Kotla Road, Kharge expressed his appreciation for L&T’s role in building the facility, which was undertaken by the company. However, he sarcastically replied to Subrahmanyan’s call for a grueling 90-hour workweek, which had sparked controversy.
Kharge humorously remarked, “Some dues are also left from our side,” drawing laughter from the attendees, before continuing to challenge the notion of overworking employees. He said, “I would like to thank L&T construction, architects, and laborers involved in the construction. While I thank the company, the company’s CEO has made a remark of working 90 hours in a week. I don’t agree with that.”
Historical Reference to Nehru and Ambedkar’s Stance
Kharge further emphasized the importance of workers’ rights, citing the views of Jawaharlal Nehru and BR Ambedkar. He recalled that they had advocated for a 40-hour workweek in the formulation of the Factories Act, with the notion that workers should not be subjected to more than eight hours of work per day. “A laborer works for eight hours and gets tired,” Kharge pointed out.
Previous Calls for Longer Work Weeks
Kharge also referenced previous calls for longer workweeks, such as those made by former Infosys chairman Narayana Murthy, who had proposed a 70-hour workweek. “After that, someone said nine hours, but he (L&T chief) is now talking of 12 hours, 14 hours. He should leave that view,” Kharge remarked.
Controversy Around Subrahmanyan’s Comments
Subrahmanyan’s remarks about forcing employees to work on Sundays had already stirred controversy. In a video that went viral, he was heard saying, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Come on, get to the office and start working.” He added, “I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy because I work on Sundays.”
Kharge’s response has reignited the ongoing debate about work-life balance, with many questioning the viability and ethical implications of excessively long work hours.
