Amul shares doodle on L&T chairman's 90-hour workweek remark: 'Labour and toil?'

The remarks by SN Subrahmanyan have drawn sharp criticism from various quarters.

Dairy giant Amul has now waded into the heated discussion on the controversial 90-hour workweek proposal. The debate was reignited by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan, who recently suggested that employees should work up to 90 hours per week, including Sundays, to remain competitive.

In a video widely circulated online, Subrahmanyan remarked, "I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I could, I would. I work on Sundays." He further questioned the purpose of taking time off, 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? Get to the office and start working.”

The comments sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many users condemning the idea of marathon work hours and questioning the unrealistic expectations placed on employees.

Amul joined the fray on Tuesday, sharing a doodle that addressed both the proposal and Subrahmanyan’s remarks. The artwork featured the tagline “Labour and Toil?”, with the letters “L” and “T” prominently highlighted, in an apparent nod to Larsen & Toubro. Taking a humorous jab at Subrahmanyan’s controversial statement about staring at one’s spouse, the doodle read, “Amul stares at bread daily.”

The brand captioned the post, “Controversy about the 90-hour work week!”

#Amul Topical: Controversy about the 90 hour work week! pic.twitter.com/VQlwoLoTx8
Amul.coop (@Amul_Coop) January 14, 2025

The remarks by Subrahmanyan have drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, with social media users expressing outrage. Many likened his comments to a similar statement made earlier by Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, who advocated for a 70-hour workweek. Critics questioned why highly paid CEOs, who operate under different pressures, expect comparable levels of commitment from employees who often earn significantly less.

Prominent voices also joined the conversation. Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone and RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka condemned the comments. Goenka took to X (formerly Twitter), writing, “90 hours a week? Why not rename Sunday to ‘Sun-duty’ and make ‘day off’ a mythical concept!”

Business leader Anand Mahindra offered a more measured perspective, advocating for a focus on productivity and efficiency over the sheer number of hours worked. He emphasised that quality should take precedence over quantity in the workplace.

While the debate continues, data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) paints a sobering picture of work culture in India. According to the ILO, India ranks 13th among the world’s most overworked countries. The report revealed that Indian employees work an average of 46.7 hours per week, with over 51% of the workforce clocking 49 hours or more, placing India second globally for prolonged working hours.