A few weeks ago, Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy said in a podcast that if India's overall work productivity needed to improve, then the country's youth must work 70 hours in a week.
Murthy's advice evoked strong reactions from various leaders, some of whom agreed with his words while others did not echo his views.
On Friday, Congress MP Manish Tewari was the latest to back Murthy's views, saying that working 70 hours every week combined with one weekly and 15 days of vacation must become the norm, if there is sufficient work. "I do not understand the brouhaha around @Infosys_nmurthy
statement on a 70 hour work week . What is wrong with it ? Some of us Public Representatives work 12-15 hours a day 7 days a week balancing careers with Public Service," Tewari wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
Tewari further said that he did not recall the last time he took an off on a Sunday and if India had to become a global superpower, then one or more generations of professionals must work for 70 hours every week.
The Congress leader' post saw several comments, many of whom disagreed with Tewari's words and called for higher pay if they were to put in long hours at work.
"What about something called 'pay'? Do people deserve to get paid humane and livable wages before they commit to 70 hours a week or nah, that's just brouhaha as well?," one user wrote.
"Considering the lavish salaries, perks and pensions (even after one term ) you people receive , what is the big deal?," another user wrote.
"Why not 100hr a week with no off. push for this sir," a third user wrote.
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