While the 90-hour work week debate rages on, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday announced that his government is planning to implement "work from home" policies for women in the state in a "big way" under the Information Technology (IT) and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) policy 4.0.
The Chief Minister, sharing details on his social media handles, said the initiative can help strike a better work-life balance.
Posting on the microblogging website X, Naidu extended greetings to women and girls working in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
He wrote, "Today, we celebrate their achievements and commit ourselves to providing them equal and full access to growth opportunities in these fields."
The TDP leader also said that the work scenario changed significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic, as easy access to technology helped “work from home” gain prominence.
"Concepts such as remote work, coworking spaces (CWS), and Neighbourhood Workspaces (NWS) can empower businesses and employees alike to create flexible, productive work environments," he said.
"Such initiatives can help us strike a better work-life balance as well. We plan to harness these trends to drive meaningful change in AP. The Andhra Pradesh IT & GCC Policy 4.0 is a game-changing step in that direction. We're offering incentives for developers to create IT office spaces in every city/town/mandal and supporting IT/GCC firms to generate employment at the grassroots," he added.
CM expressed hope that these initiatives are expected to encourage greater workforce participation among women by offering flexible hybrid and remote work options. With better work-life balance and fewer commute challenges, women professionals will have better career opportunities.
What Is The 90-Hour Work Week Debate?
The "90-hour work week debate" refers to the controversy sparked by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan's suggestion last month that employees should work 90 hours a week, including Sundays.
This statement sparked a nationwide discussion about achieving a balance between work-life and productivity, with many criticising the idea as promoting burnout and being unrealistic.
