'No overtime, long hours': TMC MP Saket Gokhale calls for urgent labour reforms to protect private sector workers

Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale advocated for laws to address toxic work culture in the private sector, citing the death of a 26-year-old woman due to work pressure. He highlighted excessive work hours without overtime pay, weekend work without compensation, and the lack of legal protection for employees, particularly in the IT sector.

NEW DELHI: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saket Gokhale on Friday called for the introduction of laws to combat the toxic work culture in the private sector, urging the government to ensure that employees are provided with healthy working conditions. Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, Gokhale talked about the recent deaths of professionals allegedly linked to work-related stress , including that of Anna Sebastian, a 26-year-old woman who passed away due to extreme work pressure. Gokhale drew attention to the alarming rise in complaints on social media about the harsh working conditions in private companies, particularly in client-facing roles.

"Employees are often made to work long hours—8, 10, or even 12 hours—without any provision for overtime pay, which is unheard of in many other countries," he said. He added that many workers in these roles are subjected to the whims of clients, being called in to work on weekends without compensation, further exacerbating the stressful conditions they face. The MP stressed the urgent need for labour laws to regulate these issues, stating that the current system fails to protect workers adequately.

"In India, there is no provision for overtime in contracts. This lack of legislation is causing widespread deprivation for workers who are overburdened and underpaid," Gokhale remarked. He pointed out that, in his home state of West Bengal, the IT sector employs over 2.

6 lakh people, underscoring the importance of reform in private sector work culture . Gokhale also highlighted the financial deprivation faced by workers in West Bengal, citing the stalled funds for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). He urged the government to ensure that workers, whether in the private or public sector, are paid fairly for their labour.

"People who work deserve to be paid. This toxic work culture and the deprivation it causes must be addressed seriously," he concluded, calling on the government to take immediate action..