India’s job crisis makes 12-hour workdays a misguided solution
India is currently at a critical crossroads in its economic development. With a youthful population eager to contribute and an ambitious agenda spanning manufacturing, digital services, and technology innovation, the country faces the persistent challenge of unemployment and underemployment. According to recent estimates, millions of Indian youth remain outside formal employment, struggling to find meaningful work. In this context, some influential business leaders and policymakers, including voices from Karnataka and industry icons like Narayanmurthy, have advocated for significantly longer workdays—ranging from 10 to 12 hours—to boost productivity and economic output.
However, this push to extend working hours overlooks key structural realities of India’s economy and society. The notion that increasing individual labor input will solve widespread employment challenges is flawed and risks worsening inequality. Longer work hours often benefit only a small segment of the workforce, leading to overwork, burnout, and social strain, while leaving millions unemployed or working in precarious conditions. Instead of driving inclusive growth, this approach may deepen economic divides and lead to social unrest.
Why China’s 996 Model Doesn’t Fit India
The 996 work culture—working from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week—gained infamy in China’s tech and manufacturing sectors and was promoted by some business leaders as a pathway to rapid economic success. Yet, this model initiated in the last century was viable only under very specific conditions unique to China’s growth phase: a significant labor shortage fueled by rapid urbanization, a manufacturing-heavy economy where output scales roughly with hours worked, and strong centralized political control that could enforce labor regulations irrespective of public dissent.
21st Century India is fundamentally different from China, with its large surplus labor force, particularly among women and youth, who remain underutilized.Our economy is increasingly driven by services and domestic consumption, where longer hours do not necessarily translate to proportional productivity gains. Moreover, India’s democratic framework and more responsive labor protections mean that any attempt to impose harsh labor practices would likely face strong resistance. Simply put, India cannot replicate China’s labor-intensive model without risking severe social and economic consequences.
Global Lessons: Successes in Reduced Work Hours
International experience suggests that reducing work hours, when combined with supportive policies, can increase employment and enhance worker well-being. Looking at examples around the world will help us arrive at a model that will be suitable for India’s needs at present. France’s introduction of the 35-hour workweek in 2000 for example, aimed to distribute work more evenly across the population and combat unemployment. While it yielded modest employment gains and improved work-life balance, the policy faced challenges related to labor costs and enforcement. Germany’s Kurzarbeit scheme saw the government subsidize reduced working hours during economic downturns such as the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic to successfully preserve jobs. The German model of implementation illustrates the importance of government support in helping to meet long term goals.
In the Netherlands a cultural model was adopted where part-time and flexible work arrangements were made mainstream, leading to high labor force participation and especially high female workforce involvement. Sweden’s trials of six-hour workdays showed improvements in employee satisfaction, health, and productivity, although cost and scalability remain concerns. Japan’s efforts to limit excessive overtime reflect a growing recognition of the health risks posed by overwork, though cultural barriers slow widespread change.
These examples highlight that there are multiple ways in which shorter work hours can yield social and economic benefits but the choice of model and its success depends on careful adaptation to local conditions, strong institutional support, and cultural acceptance.
India’s Real Challenge: A Shortage of Jobs, Not Workers
India’s pressing challenge is not a lack of labor but rather a scarcity of quality, formal employment opportunities. Millions of able and willing workers remain unemployed or trapped in informal, low-paid jobs with little security. Increasing the length of working hours for existing employees does not create new jobs or address the fundamental mismatch between labor supply and demand.
In this environment, policies that extend workdays risk entrenching inequalities by overburdening a limited group of workers while excluding many others from the labor market. The focus must instead be on expanding the total number of jobs and making work accessible and sustainable for more people.
The Case for Six-Hour Workdays and Job Doubling
Unlike authoritarian models that prioritize economic output at the cost of worker well-being, India’s labor policy must reflect its democratic ethos and social fabric. A promising solution for India is to reduce the standard workday to six hours in key sectors and hire two workers instead of one for each existing role. This approach of adopting shorter workdays will promote equity by distributing income more widely, reduce dependency on social welfare programs, and improve overall social stability.
This model can help raise aggregate household incomes, thereby boosting domestic demand and supporting inclusive growth. By realigning labor regulations with India’s demographic realities, including its large young workforce and growing female participation, the country can foster a resilient, demand-driven economy that supports sustained growth and social harmony. It also aligns with emerging social preferences for better work-life balance and improved health outcomes. Importantly, this is not a call for reduced productivity but a strategic reallocation of labor inputs to maximize social and economic returns.
Regulating AI to Protect Entry-Level Jobs
Technological advancements, especially artificial intelligence (AI), pose both opportunities and risks for India’s workforce. While AI can enhance efficiency, it also threatens to displace millions of entry-level jobs in sectors like data entry, customer service, and logistics.
India must adopt a cautious approach by restricting widespread AI adoption in vulnerable entry-level roles until comprehensive reskilling, upskilling, and redeployment frameworks are put in place. This will ensure that technology complements human labor rather than replacing it prematurely, safeguarding livelihoods during the transition to a more automated economy.
Government’s Role in Making Shorter Hours Work
Successful implementation of shorter work hours coupled with workforce expansion requires proactive government intervention. These measures would help to reduce the financial burden on employers, encourage job creation, and promote equitable labor market participation. Key policy measures should include:
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Wage subsidies for firms hiring additional workers to share existing roles, offsetting initial costs.
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Tax incentives and credits for companies adopting six-hour shifts and prioritizing job creation.
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Creation of special employment zones with streamlined regulatory processes and reduced costs, focusing on labor-intensive sectors such as textiles, logistics, retail, and food processing.
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Urban job guarantee programs inspired by rural schemes like MGNREGA, leveraging digital platforms to connect workers with part-time and rotational jobs.
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Support for gender-inclusive employment, including childcare facilities, safe transport, and targeted incentives for companies meeting diversity goals.
Building an Inclusive, India-Centric Labor Model
India does not need to imitate foreign labor models that do not fit its unique conditions. Instead, by embracing shorter hours, expanding employment opportunities, regulating technology adoption, and implementing supportive government policies, India can unlock its vast human capital and build an economy that works for all. This human-centered growth path prioritizes dignity, inclusion, and sustainability over sheer output. It is a strategic choice that will enable India not only to grow but to thrive socially and economically in the decades ahead.
