Reduce working time to 6hrs: AITUC

Stressing on the need for more employment opportunities by increasing the number of shifts per day, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) today said it could be increased from the present three to four by cutting the duration to six hours per shift.

H Mahadevan, national joint general secretary of AITUC, said today that trade unions should initiate a fight to bring down the working hours to six from the  present eight hours so that more employment opportunities could be generated.

In his inaugural address to the three-day 16th Tamil Nadu AITUC conference, Mahadevan said the working hours were decided some decades ago when employment and work were commensurate with the population.

"Considering the present situation of liberalisation, globalisation and privatisation and the changing economic scenario, it was imperative to bring down the working hours to six," he said.

He said this would create more employment opportunities, and also enhance the purchasing power of the common people.

Coming down heavily on employees in the IT sector, particularly in places like Bangalore, Mahadevan said they were working as "educated bonded labourers" for more than 10 to 12 hours.