Shri S. Venkatesan posed a question regarding the health issues of employees in the IT sector, specifically regarding awareness of increasing reports of overwork and stress-related disorders, whether a comprehensive study has been undertaken, and if not, whether the government proposes to form a committee to examine the issues and recommend measures.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, responded that Labour is a subject under the Concurrent List and is regulated by both State and Central Governments. Enforcement in the Central sphere is carried out by the Central Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM), while in the State sphere, compliance is ensured through the State Labour Machinery. Working conditions in most private sector establishments, including IT and ITES, are governed by the Shops and Establishments Acts. The Central Government has enacted the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH&WC) Code, 2020, enforced from 21.11.2025, to safeguard the health, safety, and well-being of persons employed across sectors including the Information Technology and IT enabled services establishments.
Key Entities Referenced
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH&WC) Code, 2020: A central government code enacted to safeguard the health, safety, and well-being of persons employed across sectors including the Information Technology and IT enabled services establishments.
Information Technology (IT) and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) sectors: Sectors whose employees' health issues are the subject of the question in the document.
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The ministry to which the question is addressed.
Shops and Establishments Acts: Acts governing working conditions in most private sector establishments, including those in the IT and ITES sectors.
Central Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM): Machinery used for enforcement in the Central sphere.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 38
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
STUDY OF HEALTH ISSUES OF EMPLOYEES IN IT SECTOR
38. SHRI S VENKATESAN:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)whether the Government is aware of the increasing reports of
overwork, stress-related disorders and other occupational health
issues among employees working in the Information Technology (IT)
and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) sectors and if
so, the details thereof;
(b)whether any comprehensive study has been undertaken by the
Government to assess the physical and mental health conditions of
employees in these sectors and if so, the details thereof; and
(c)if not, whether the Government proposes to constitute a committee
consisting of health experts, representatives of trade unions and
officials from the Ministry of Labour to examine the said issues and
recommend appropriate measures in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (c): ‘Labour’, being a subject under the Concurrent List, is
regulated by both the State Governments and the Central Government
within their respective jurisdictions. In the Central sphere,
enforcement is carried out by inspecting officers of the Central
Industrial Relations Machinery (CIRM), while in the State sphere,
compliance is ensured through the State Labour Machinery.
As per the existing labour laws, the working conditions in
most private sector establishments, including those in the IT and ITES
sectors, are governed by the Shops and Establishments Acts, for
which the appropriate Government is the State Government.
Further, the Central Government has enacted the Occupational
Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH&WC) Code, 2020 which
has been enforced w.e.f. 21.11.2025 to safeguard the health, safety,
and well-being of persons employed across sectors including the
Information Technology and IT enabled services establishments.
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