Employees file case against popular IT companies for long work hours; court responds!

In a landmark case in the history against IT industries, and in a first, employees of leading IT companies have filed case against the companies for long working hours, no incentives, bad leave policy, etc, reports Business Insider.

The Telangana High Court ordered the IT giants to respond within 4 weeks. It is a Public Interest Litigation filed by 3 employees along with activist group Forum Against Corruption.

The techies have said that “white collared slavery prevailing in the state in the name of employment" should end and they have named several IT giants including Accenture, Cognizant and Caspex Corp.

There have been cases where the techies spend over 10 hours at office without any extra pay, spend 4-5 hours in travel, not getting leave approved on time, etc.

The Andhra Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act of 1988, which was renamed to The Telangana Shops and Establishments Act of 1988 states that not more than 48 hour/week and 8 hour/day should be working hours. Overtime can only be for 6 hour/ week and 24 hour/ year. Employees are entitled to 15 days paid leave, 12 days casual leave, 12 days sick leave in a year.

In 2002, to encourage more IT companies to be set up in the state, IT firms were allowed to bypass 6 sections of the law which includes in and out time, working hours, leave, and provision to protect employees in case of dismissal. In 2019, this was given an extension for another 2 years. Government can only impose a fine of Rs.100 if any IT firm breaks law, reports Trak. The PIL now aims to change the exception.

*Image used for representational purpose only. Source: Internet.