Narayana Murthy again backs longer working hours, cites China’s 9-9-work culture
PTC Web Desk: Infosys founder Narayana Murthy has once again shared his strong views on work-life balance and productivity. In a new interview, the 79-year-old billionaire said that young Indians should work longer hours if they want the country to grow faster. Murthy referred to China’s famous 9-9-6 work culture to support his point.
The 9-9-6 rule means working from 9 am. to 9 pm, six days a week, a total of 72 hours. This schedule became very common during China’s tech boom, especially in big companies such as Alibaba and Huawei. However, it was also criticised for causing stress and burnout. In 2021, China’s Supreme Court declared the 9-9-6 practice illegal, though reports say it still exists in some places.
Murthy said if Indian youth want the country to grow as fast as China, they should be ready to work harder. He repeated his earlier statement from 2023 when he said Indians should work 70 hours a week for nation-building. He added that people should “first work hard to build a life and then think about work-life balance.”
When asked whether India can match China in manufacturing or other fields, Murthy said it is possible but very difficult. He noted that India is growing at about 6.57%, which he called “a reasonable pace.” But since China’s economy is nearly six times bigger, he believes India will need extraordinary effort to catch up.
He said progress will come only if everyone, citizens, bureaucrats, politicians, corporate leaders and civil society, sets high standards and works with full dedication. “The job is not easy,” Murthy said. “But if each of us sets high benchmarks and works hard, India can reach China.”
- With inputs from agencies
