Zoho Corporation's CEO, Sridhar Vembu, has voiced concerns over the proposed 70-hour workweek, highlighting its potential long-term downsides. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Vembu critiqued the notion that extreme work hours are essential for economic development. He referenced East Asian nations like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China, which achieved rapid growth through intense work cultures. However, he noted these countries now face alarmingly low birth rates, forcing governments to encourage population growth.

Vembu posed two critical questions: whether such hard work is necessary for development and whether the resulting societal trade-offs, like widespread loneliness in old age, are worth it. Addressing the first, he argued that only 2-5% of a population needs to work exceptionally hard to drive development, a group he identifies with personally. Yet, he cautioned against prescribing such a lifestyle for everyone, emphasizing the importance of maintaining work-life balance for the majority.

To the second question, Vembu firmly stated that India should not follow China's path of economic success at the cost of steep demographic decline. With India already at replacement-level fertility and some southern states below it, he warned against further drops to East Asian levels, as this could harm societal well-being.

Contrasting with Infosys founder Narayana Murthy’s endorsement of a 70-hour workweek for national development, Vembu concluded that India can progress without compromising its demographic stability, advocating for a more sustainable approach.