N R Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys, has reignited a nationwide conversation about work culture by reiterating his belief that young Indians should work 70–72 hours per week to boost India’s economic growth. In a recent interview with Republic TV, he emphasized his perspective by referencing China’s ‘9-9-6’ work model—working from 9 am to 9 pm for six days a week—as an example of commitment and national ambition. When discussing shifting attitudes towards work, particularly among Gen Z, Murthy remarked, “First we should all get a life, then we should worry about work-life balance.” He stated that his views are informed by decades of observing talent from various sectors, countries, and political environments.
He contended that sustained effort is crucial for success, noting that even India’s Prime Minister works nearly 100 hours a week, which he considers a model to emulate. Murthy explained that teams from his investment firm, Catamaran, visited several Chinese cities to study their work practices, finding the ‘9-9-6’ concept still prevalent. He asserted that such discipline has contributed to China’s development. He believes India is at a critical juncture and must not slow down. If the nation fails to achieve a $10 trillion economy, Murthy placed the blame on current leaders for not instilling the value of hard work in the youth. His statements, however, faced swift backlash online.
Critics highlighted that China made the ‘9-9-6’ work system illegal in 2021 due to reports of burnout and related health issues. Many accused Murthy of cherry-picking China as a model while ignoring global trends favoring humane work conditions. Social media users pointed out the disparity between expectations and reality in India, with comments suggesting that before adopting such work hours, salaries, infrastructure, and living costs must be addressed. Some pointed out that long hours are already common for many Indian workers due to traffic and inadequate labor laws, with one comment noting that they spend up to 12 hours in traffic.
Others criticized the growing gap between corporate profits and employee pay, arguing that workers are being asked to sacrifice while companies benefit. Comparisons were also made to Europe’s more balanced lifestyle, with one user noting, “There’s a saying in Europe — 10, 5, 5. You know what it means? 10 am to 5 pm, 5 days a week. They go for walks, trekking, meet friends, enjoy life.” Murthy first sparked this debate in 2023, and two years later, opinions remain sharply divided. While some advocate for increased effort to foster India’s growth, others stress that progress should not come at the expense of health, dignity, and work-life balance.