Narayana Murthy, the co-founder and former chairman of Infosys, one of India's largest IT companies, recently made a controversial comment that sparked a lot of debate and controversy among the public, the media, and the business leaders. He said that India needs to work harder and longer to catch up with the developed economies and to boost its productivity and innovation. He suggested that Indians should work for 70 hours a week, instead of the usual 40 hours, to achieve this goal.
But is working longer hours really the solution to India's economic challenges? Does it guarantee better performance, higher quality, and more creativity? Or does it have negative effects on the health, well-being, and happiness of the workers? And what are the other factors that affect the economic growth and competitiveness of a country?
In this blog post, we will try to answer these questions by looking at some facts and information from various sources. We will also try to present both sides of the argument and let you decide for yourself what you think about this topic.
The Facts
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), India's labour productivity (measured by GDP per hour worked) in 2020 was $6.8, which was much lower than the OECD average of $54.4. This means that India produces much less value for each hour of work than most other countries.
According to the World Bank, India's GDP per capita (measured by purchasing power parity) in 2020 was $6,284, which was also much lower than the world average of $17,535. This means that India has a low standard of living compared to most other countries.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), India's average weekly hours actually worked per employed person in 2019 was 46.8 hours, which was higher than the global average of 38.6 hours. This means that India already works longer hours than most other countries.
According to a study by Microsoft India, 41 percent of Indian workers reported increased stress levels due to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 32 percent said they were unable to balance work with personal life. This means that working longer hours can have negative effects on the mental and emotional health of the workers.
According to a report by Assocham India, India has one of the highest rates of coronary heart disease in the world, and it is estimated that by 2025, it will account for 60 percent of heart disease patients worldwide. This means that working longer hours can also have negative effects on the physical health of the workers.
The Arguments
Those who agree with Narayana Murthy's comment say that India needs to work harder and longer to catch up with the developed economies and to boost its productivity and innovation. They argue that working longer hours can lead to more output, more income, more savings, more investment, more growth, and more development. They also argue that working longer hours can foster a culture of excellence, discipline, dedication, and passion among the workers. They cite examples of successful entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators who worked long hours to achieve their goals and dreams.
Those who disagree with Narayana Murthy's comment say that working longer hours does not necessarily mean working better or smarter, and that it can have negative effects on the health, well-being, and creativity of the workers. They argue that working longer hours can lead to burnout, fatigue, stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, illness, injury, and reduced quality of life. They also argue that working longer hours can hamper a culture of collaboration, diversity, flexibility, and balance among the workers. They cite examples of successful countries, companies, and individuals who worked less hours but achieved more results and happiness.
The Conclusion
So should you work 70 hours a week? There is no definitive answer to this question. It depends on your personal preferences, goals, values, circumstances, and priorities. You may choose to work longer hours if you enjoy your work, if you have a clear purpose and vision for your work, if you have a supportive environment and resources for your work, and if you have a healthy lifestyle and habits for your work. You may choose to work less hours if you value your personal life more than your work life, if you have other interests and passions outside your work life,
if you have other responsibilities and commitments outside your work life,
and if you have a holistic approach and perspective for your work life.
Ultimately, you have to decide what works best for you. You have to find your own balance between work and life. You have to find your own meaning and happiness in your work and life.
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