India’s workforce is grappling with one of the longest workweeks globally. According to a report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the average Indian works 46.7 hours per week—placing the country 13th globally in terms of long working hours. But how sustainable is this culture of overwork?
The recent tragedy of Anna Sebastian, an employee at multinational EY India, who passed away after being admitted to the hospital due to work pressure, brings this issue to the forefront. Overwork in the corporate world isn't just limited to multinational companies; it spans across various sectors. According to a survey by PAIGAM and the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers, around 31% of cab drivers work over 14 hours a day, while food delivery drivers on platforms like Swiggy and Zomato average 69.3 hours per week—no Sundays off.
The issue of long work hours isn’t limited to manual laborers. Even white-collar workers are struggling, with CEOs like Larsen & Toubro's S.N. Subramanyan suggesting 90-hour workweeks. This extreme view of overwork has sparked a debate on whether ‘work-life balance’ is a luxury or a necessity.
Data from the Institute for Human Development reveals that between 2012 and 2022, the real earnings of salaried and self-employed individuals in India have dropped. Meanwhile, the salaries of top CEOs in IT companies have risen by over 160%.
With a workforce facing mental health issues like burnout, depression, and anxiety—63% of employees in India experience burnout—it’s time for a change. Will India continue down the road of overwork, or is it time to prioritize quality work, fair compensation, and employee well-being?