Chennai’s Labor Productivity Ranked Among World’s Lowest, Narayana Murthy Urges Youth to Work Longer Hours
Chennai, India – Labor productivity in India has been flagged as one of the lowest in the world, according to recent reports. In light of this, Narayana Murthy, one of the founders of IT giant Infosys, has called on the country’s youth to work longer hours in order to improve the nation’s economic standing.
In a podcast interview, Murthy emphasized the need for India to enhance labor productivity and reduce corruption and bureaucratic delays. He drew parallels to the post-World War II experiences of countries like Japan and Germany, where overtime work played a crucial role in their economic recovery.
“Unless we improve labor productivity, unless we reduce corruption, unless we reduce the delay in the ruling class, we cannot compete with developed countries,” Murthy stated. “So my request is that the youth should work 70 hours a week. I am saying this because India is my country. This is what happened in Japan and Germany after World War II. Certain years ensured that all Germans worked overtime.”
Murthy emphasized the importance of working harder and the correlation between increased performance and economic development on a global scale. He urged Indian youth to commit to a daily work schedule of 12 hours for the next two to five decades in order to propel the country to a higher rank in terms of GDP.
“The future of a poor child in a remote village in India rests on the shoulders of our youth. They should realize that responsibility,” Murthy added.
India has long struggled with low labor productivity, which hampers its ability to keep up with more developed countries. Improving productivity has been a challenge due to a multitude of factors, including bureaucratic red tape, corruption, and inefficiencies in the labor market.
While Murthy’s suggestion may sound extreme, it highlights the urgency of the situation and the need for India to take decisive action to reverse its productivity crisis. The country’s future economic growth and competitiveness are at stake, and the burden falls on the shoulders of the younger generation.
Government officials and experts in India have lauded Murthy’s call to action, acknowledging the need for a change in mindset and work ethic. However, there are also concerns about the potential strain this could place on the well-being and work-life balance of the youth.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether Murthy’s plea will galvanize the Indian youth to embrace longer working hours and help elevate the country’s economic status in the global arena.