L&T Chairperson S N Subrahmanyan Sparks Fresh Row: Says Govt Schemes Make Workers Reluctant To Relocate

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairperson S N Subrahmanyan, who recently faced backlash over his 90-hour workweek remark, has once again drawn attention with his latest comments on worker relocation.

Speaking at the CII's Mystic South Global Linkages Summit 2025 in Chennai on Tuesday, Subrahmanyan stated that government welfare schemes such as MGNREGA, JAN DHAN accounts, and direct benefit transfers have impacted labour mobility. He said that many workers are reluctant to leave their hometowns due to comfort and financial security, making it difficult for the construction industry to find labour.

Highlighting concerns over high attrition, he revealed that while L&T requires four lakh workers, the company has to recruit 16 lakh due to frequent employee turnover. He also stressed the need to revise workers' wages in line with inflation. Comparing salaries, he pointed out that workers in the Middle East earn nearly three to 3.5 times more than their Indian counterparts.

Subrahmanyan previously sparked controversy over his statement supporting a 90-hour workweek, including Sundays. His remarks, first circulated on Reddit, suggested that employees should prioritise work over personal life. In the viral video, he questioned, "How long can you stare at your wife?" and expressed disappointment over not being able to mandate Sunday work, stating, "If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy because I work on Sundays."

His comments reignited debates on work-life balance, echoing Infosys founder Narayana Murthy's views from October 2023. Murthy had then advocated for a 70-hour workweek, arguing that India's youth must work longer hours to compete with fast-growing economies like China and Japan.