Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has reignited debate by urging young Indian workers to adopt a 70-hour workweek, a stark contrast to the global shift towards shorter workweeks and hybrid working models. His comments come amid a period of transformation in workforce practices worldwide, as companies navigate return-to-office mandates post-COVID-19 and experiment with reduced working hours.
Murthy’s argument focuses on economic growth, citing India’s need to catch up with global benchmarks. Speaking at the Indian Chamber of Commerce centenary, he highlighted the reality of widespread poverty in India, with 800 million citizens affected. He emphasized hard work as a solution, questioning, “If we are not in a position to work hard, then who will?”
Murthy’s call isn’t new. In October 2023, he advocated voluntary 12-hour workdays, suggesting that such efforts could propel India into becoming an economic powerhouse. He has also criticized work-from-home culture, accusing Indian workers of exploiting the system for multiple jobs.
His stance, however, clashes with evidence and global trends. Data from Our World in Data shows that longer working hours don’t directly translate into higher GDP. Countries like India and Bangladesh already work long hours but have significantly lower GDP per capita compared to nations like the U.S., which works fewer hours annually.
Research from Stanford University supports the view that extended workweeks may harm productivity. Workers putting in over 49 hours weekly often experience diminishing returns, suggesting that more work doesn’t equate to better outcomes.
Murthy’s advocacy draws comparisons to China, where workers average 2,169 hours annually for a GDP per capita of $14,129. However, India’s annual average of 2,123 hours results in a GDP per capita of just $6,711, further questioning the relationship between hours worked and economic prosperity.
As India grapples with these contrasting perspectives, the path forward may require balancing hard work with sustainable workforce practices.
