Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy has once again advocated for longer working hours in India, this time citing China’s work culture as an example. The 79-year-old billionaire pointed to the well-known “9-9-6” schedule practiced by some Chinese companies.
The 9-9-6 model refers to employees working from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week, a total of 72 hours. Although this approach has become associated with several major Chinese tech firms over the past decade, it has been widely criticised for being exhausting, harmful to health, and incompatible with a healthy work-life balance. In 2021, China’s Supreme Court declared the system illegal, although its enforcement remains uncertain, according to several media reports.
Despite the controversy, Murthy praised it during an interview with Republic TV. In 2023, he ignited a nationwide discussion by advocating for Indians to work 70 hours a week to support national development.
“There is a saying in China, 9, 9, 6. You know what it means? 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week. And that is a 72-hour week,” Murthy said, suggesting that India’s youth should adopt similar work hours. He added that people should “get a life and then worry about work-life balance.”
🚨 “There is a saying in China, 9, 9, 6. You know what it means? 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week. And that is 72 hours work-week, ” said Narayana Murthy. pic.twitter.com/FCeNFynG1F
— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) November 17, 2025
Murthy’s comment did not sit well with several professionals on social media, which led to strong criticism. “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, and “enjoy” life. Please guide India in the right direction, uncle. We wanna “live” !!” a user wrote. “You can’t expect 100km mileage on a drop of oil, similarly, one cannot expect to work overtime with a peanut salary and 0 hike,” another user commented.
“Business leaders in India are pushing for extra long work hours with calls for seventy hour weeks to match China’s tech sector. But experts warn such extreme schedules cause burnout and health problems and young workers globally are rejecting this grind culture,” a third user reacted.
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