Manish Tewari said 70-hour work week with a day off should become the norm. (File)
New Delhi:
Congress leader Manish Tewari today joined the ongoing debate over Infosys chairman Narayana Murthy’s 70-hour work week advice.
Endorsing Mr Murthy’s view, Manish Tewari said that several public representatives like him work 12-15 hours a day.
“I do not understand the brouhaha around @Infosys_nmurthy statement on a 70 hour work week . What is wrong with it ?,” he asked on X- formerly known as Twitter.
He said that 70-hour work week with a day off should become the norm.
“If India has to truly become a great power one or even two generations have to make 70 hours a week their work ethic. 70 hours a week with one day off & 15 days of vacations in one year must become the norm,” Mr Tewari said.
I do not understand the brouhaha around @Infosys_nmurthy statement on a 70 hour work week . What is wrong with it ?
Some of us Public Representatives work 12-15 hours a day 7 days a week balancing careers with Public Service.
I do not recall when I last took a Sunday off.…
— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) November 10, 2023
Mr Murthy last month sparked a huge debate online, pitching for a 70-hour work week. “India’s work productivity is one of the lowest in the world. Unless we improve our work productivity, we will not be able to compete with those countries that have made tremendous progress. So, therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say ‘this is my country. I’d like to work 70 hours a week,” the Infosys founder had said.
Mr Murthy made the remark on a podcast hosted by former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai.
Giving an example of how other nations have enhanced their productivity, Mr Murthy said, “This is exactly what the Germans and Japanese did after the Second World War…they made sure that every German worked extra hours for a certain number of years.”
