KITU Mourns the Heartbreaking Loss of Young IT Employee, Calls for Justice and Change
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Bengaluru: The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees Union (KITU) is deeply heartbroken over the tragic death of Jacob Thomas, a 23-year-old software engineer at Kochi-based Linways Technologies. Jacob’s life was cut short, a casualty of the relentless pressures of an exploitative work culture that demands too much and gives too little. He succumbed to unbearable stress, endless working hours, and unyielding demands, ending his life in his flat in Kerala.
This devastating loss has sent shockwaves across the IT community, laying bare the harsh reality of an industry that glorifies overwork at the expense of human lives. “Jacob was only 23. His whole life was ahead of him. But this toxic culture of pushing employees beyond their limits stole that from him—and from us,” KITU said in a heartfelt statement.
In the IT sector, the notion of an eight-hour workday has become a cruel joke. Employers routinely force workers to extend their hours late into the night and over weekends, often without compensation. The toll on physical and mental health is immense—an invisible weight many bear silently until it becomes unbearable. Jacob’s tragic death is not an isolated case but a chilling reminder of what unchecked workplace exploitation can lead to.
KITU has called upon the government to wake up to this crisis. They demand an immediate and thorough investigation into the working conditions in the IT/ITeS industry, urging strict action against companies that violate labor laws and disregard employee well-being. “Jacob’s death must not be in vain. It’s time to hold these companies accountable for the lives they ruin,” the union emphasized.
The union also issued a heartfelt appeal to IT workers everywhere: unite, speak out, and fight back against toxic workplace practices. “Jacob’s loss is a tragedy that no family, no friend, no colleague should ever have to endure again,” they said.
Jacob Thomas was more than an employee—he was a son, a friend, a young man with dreams and aspirations. His passing is a profound loss that should stir the conscience of an industry. KITU’s call to action is a plea for change—a demand for a world where no one else has to suffer as Jacob did.
