New Delhi: Larsen & Toubro Chairman SN Subrahmanyan has once again stirred controversy, this time over comments about the reluctance of labourers to work away from their hometowns. His remarks, made at the CII’s Mystic South Global Linkages Summit 2025 in Chennai, come on the heels of his previous statement advocating for a 90-hour work week, which sparked a nationwide debate on work-life balance.
Speaking on the challenges of labour mobilisation, Mr Subrahmanyan pointed out that government welfare schemes like MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), direct benefit transfers, and JAN DHAN accounts might be influencing workers’ reluctance to travel for job opportunities. “Labour is not willing to move for opportunities. Maybe their local economy is doing well, or it could be due to various government schemes,” he said, adding that this could hinder India’s infrastructure development.
He also highlighted the broader issue of labour attrition in the construction sector. According to him, L&T currently requires around 4 lakh workers but ends up recruiting about 16 lakh people due to high attrition rates. Mr Subrahmanyan further underscored the need to revise wages for Indian workers, noting that many prefer migrating to the Middle East, where salaries are reportedly three to 3.5 times higher.
This is not the first time Mr Subrahmanyan’s statements have sparked backlash. Just last month, he controversially suggested employees work on Sundays. “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? Come on, get to the office and start working,” he had remarked, adding that he, too, worked on Sundays.
His comments drew sharp reactions from industry leaders and policymakers. Prominent figures like Adar Poonawalla, Anand Mahindra, and ITC’s Sanjiv Puri publicly advocated for work-life balance, emphasizing its importance for productivity and mental health.
The issue even reached Parliament, where the government clarified that there is no proposal to increase the maximum working hours to 70 or 90 hours per week. Last week’s pre-Budget Economic Survey also weighed in on the debate, citing studies showing that working over 60 hours a week could have adverse health effects. The survey highlighted that individuals working 12 or more hours daily are at a higher risk of experiencing mental distress.
As the debate over work culture and labour mobilisation continues, Mr Subrahmanyan’s remarks have once again put a spotlight on India’s evolving employment landscape.
