L&T 90-hour workweek debate: Amul takes ‘Labour & Toil?’ dig, says ‘we stare at bread daily’

Amul, known for its witty takes, has poked fun at L&T (Larsen & Toubro) Chairman SN Subrahmanyan's remarks suggesting a working Sunday for his employees, while advocating a 90-hour workweek, sparking widespread debate across various circles.

In its latest doodle, Amul expressed its disapproval of the 90-hour workweek proposed by the L&T chairman and supported by the company’s HR head. The poster shows a doddle of the L&T chairman with a caption: “#Amul Topical: Controversy about the 90 hour work week!”

The text on the doodle read: ‘Labour and Toil?’ with L&T in bold. Another text on the Amul doodle read: “Amul stares at bread daily!” in a clear jibe at L&T chairman's “how can you stare at your wife?” as he advocated a working Sunday.

Also Read | Former L&T employee says Subrahmanyan’s 90-hr workweek is ‘exactly what company needs’ but calls Saturdays ‘irritating’

What did L&T chairman say?

L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan, in an interaction with employees recently, said he regrets not having to make his employees work on Sundays. “I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays,” he said. Also Read | 

“What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife, and how long can the wife stare at the husband,” the L&T chairman said, triggering a heated debate about work-life balance including from some peers in the business community such as RPG Group Chairman Harsh Goenka.

Defending the remarks, Larsen & Toubro said that the chairman's remarks reflect the company's “larger ambition”. The company said, “We believe this is India’s decade, a time demanding collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realise our shared vision of becoming a developed nation.”

The comments follow Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy's 70-hour workweek suggestion and Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani's “biwi bhaag jayegi [wife will run away]” remarks.