The 90-hour work week statement by L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan has faced another backlash, this time from Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), who has called out his comments as a ‘disregard for human dignity.’

“We cannot regress to a culture that treats workers as mere machines. Every individual, whether in the corporate sector or self-employed, deserves a balanced life where personal and professional aspirations coexist,” Khandelwal said.

He added that such comments disregard the importance of mental health in workplaces and employee well-being.

The secretary general also appreciated Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone’s views on addressing mental health challenges and creating a healthier work environment.

The L&T chairman made these controversial remarks during a session with company employees while discussing the company’s six-day workweek.

“I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays. What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Come on, get to the office and start working,” Subrahmanyan said.

For netizens, his comments were not just unacceptable in terms of workplace scheduling but were also seen as completely inappropriate.

The Chandni Chowk MP praised the actress for speaking out against the same and pointed out the need for celebrities and influencers to use their platforms to support “progressive work cultures.”

“Indian businesses, whether large corporations or MSMEs, thrive on the dedication of their workforce. Advocating for grueling work hours will only deteriorate productivity, increase stress levels, and harm the overall economy,” Khandelwal further added.

While the workplace debate has always been well-present, especially among netizens, the topic gained heightened attention last year when Infosys founder Narayana Murthy advocated for young Indians to work 70 hours a week.