Anita Anand | Do We Work to Live or Live to Work? Do Longer Hours Raise Our Productivity?

A few years ago, a statement by Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy advocating a 70-hour work week sparked a lot of controversy. In October 2023, Mr. Murthy called for a 70-hour work week, stating that youth must work 70 hours a week for India to compete with the world’s fastest-growing countries such as China and Japan. He praised the Chinese “9-9-6” formula, which involves working from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week, for a total of 72 hours.

The “9-9-6” rule was declared illegal by China’s Supreme People’s Court in 2021 for violating labor laws that set the standard workday at eight hours and the workweek at 44 hours.

While Mr. Murthy’s call received support from some corporate leaders, there was opposition from others. There are some important questions at the heart of this debate. Do longer working hours always lead to higher productivity? Should India follow China’s example? What are the disadvantages of long working hours?

Mr. Murthy’s call for a “9-9-6” formula mainly applies to employees in the organized sector such as the government, state-owned enterprises and private companies.

There are approximately 625 million people in India’s workforce and six lakh are currently employed. Agriculture employs just under half of India’s workers, or 280 million people, while industry employs 150 million people and services employ 180 million people. The remaining approximately twenty-five million people are unemployed. More than 94 percent of employees are working

in unincorporated, unorganized businesses ranging from pushcart vendors to home-based businesses.

For both organized and unorganized sectors, longer working hours do not necessarily increase productivity. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), the average working hours in India is around 48.5 hours per week. Productivity is low due to rigid work ideologies, hierarchical structures, and low levels of educational and technical skills.

How have longer working hours affected Japan and China, which Mr Murthy suggested India should follow?

A salaried employee (mostly men) in Japan is a white-collar worker who must show complete loyalty and devotion to the employer. They are typically expected to work more than 80 hours per week. They socialize with colleagues and bosses by singing karaoke, drinking, and visiting hostess bars, leaving little time for family or other pursuits. The burgeoning IT industry also demands long working hours. In both industries, work-life balance is a major concern due to long working hours, putting them at risk of “karoshi,” or “death by overwork.”

In China, it is estimated that more than three-quarters of urban workers in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou experience work-related fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, sleep or eating disorders, occupational stress, and work-family imbalance. According to China’s state-owned People’s Daily newspaper, a 2013 survey found that 98.8 percent of Chinese IT industry workers reported health problems. In recent years, there have been many deaths and suicides due to overwork due to the “9-9-6” system and other overtime regulations.

The workplace is changing. Consider self-employment, which creates most jobs in the Indian economy. HSBC Bank’s Employment Trends in India report shows the figures rising from 23.9 billion in 2018 to 35.8 billion in 2024. This seven percent annual growth rate makes self-employment the fastest-growing segment of India’s labor market, outpacing both salaried jobs and temporary jobs. After the Covid-19 epidemic, new ways of working emerged. Workers may be at the workplace and/or work from home. It reduces travel time and provides more time for private life.

Is there a life beyond work? Yes.

Over the past few decades, there has been a global call for a better work-life balance to improve physical and mental well-being. This includes spending time with family, friends, and participating in activities that the person enjoys. Both men and women should be encouraged to share household and childcare responsibilities (if there are children) and to become more involved in their communities.

The 2024 Economic Survey highlights that spending long hours at one’s workplace is “harmful” to mental health, and that individuals working 12 hours or more a day have distressed or challenging levels of mental health.

Labor laws help maintain a healthy balance between work and rest. On November 21, 2025, India changed workplace rights by replacing twenty-nine old labor laws with four new labor laws. Employees will now receive on-time wages and bonuses, fixed working hours, stricter safety standards and free healthcare. Notable changes include a flexible four-day workweek (up to 12 hours a day, 48 hours a week), a minimum 12-hour rest period between shifts, and double overtime pay. The regulations also expand work opportunities for women, along with safety measures. Of course, the important thing is the application.

Improving India’s productivity requires more than working longer hours. It needs modern infrastructure, an educated and skilled workforce, and progressive workplace policies to create an environment that meets workers’ needs and realistic productivity goals. Employers can support work-life balance by adopting flexible work policies, encouraging leaves and breaks, fostering a culture that values ​​balance, training managers to recognize burnout, and providing resources for mental and physical health.

Mr. Murthy recently revealed that he set a goal of working 70 hours a week and has personally worked those hours for 40 years of his career. He acknowledged that there are other models, but emphasized that productivity requires hard work.

The discussion sparked by Mr. Murthy’s remarks was helpful. It encourages discussion of critical issues such as the meaning of work and productivity. Should we blindly assume that other countries serve as role models? What is the reality of India? What is work really about?

There is also an existential question. We struggle to live an authentic life despite the apparent absurdity or incomprehensibility of existence. When examining meaning, purpose, and value, existential thought often includes concepts such as existential crises, anxiety, courage, and freedom. And that’s the point.

Can Mr. Narayana Murthy address this issue?