The Bengal government is extending the daily working hours for IT industry employees to make the IT services sector more attractive in the state. At present, there is a cap of 8.5 work hours a day, which will be expanded by an additional 30 minutes to 9 work hours a day, effective from July 1, 2024.

However, the maximum limit of 48 work hours a week will stand. A notification is expected to be issued by the state government shortly.

With 9 hours a day, the industry is expected to benefit by 2.5 hours per week, which will also help them bag more overseas contracts and compete with other states that offer similar working hour flexibility.

State IT minister Babul Supriyo on Friday said that the decision to extend the work hours was a long-standing demand for the industry and the state was also keen to see if this can be extended for the benefit of the industry.

“This will be a big boost for the IT industry in Bengal. Instead of 8.5 hours a day, employees will now be able to work for 9 hours a day,” Supriyo said. The IT industry has broadly welcomed the move.

“It would make Bengal more attractive for IT companies and increase employer flexibility. It also formalizes the prevalent practices in the industry,” said Arnab Basu, advisory leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers Pvt Ltd, president-designate and chairperson of the IT committee, Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“It is a welcome move and is in line with the international standards. This will not only help increase the productivity of employees but also help in improving their skills, which is a win-win for both companies as well as for IT employees in Bengal,” said Kalyan Kar, vice president, Sector V Stakeholders Association.

“The goal is to have Calcutta and Bengal as the next happening place in terms of the IT sector,” the minister said at an event organised by the Bengal Chamber on Friday.