Overview
- In a Republic TV interview, the Infosys founder urged young Indians to follow a 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six-day schedule totaling 72 hours.
- He also claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi works about 100 hours per week, presenting that as an example for the youth.
- The remarks went viral on social media, drawing criticism focused on low pay, long commutes, infrastructure gaps, health risks, and lack of overtime compensation.
- China’s 996 practice has faced legal pushback, including a 2021 Supreme Court ruling against excessive overtime, with unclear enforcement.
- Coverage cited surveys showing heavy workloads already, including 88% receiving after-hours messages (Indeed, 2024) and ILO data putting the average Indian workweek at 46.7 hours, with many exceeding 49; no policy changes were reported.