‘If you look at Japan and China…’: Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu warns of ‘demographic suicide’ in clash with Narayana Murthy

Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho Corporation, has reignited the firestorm over the 70-hour workweek, a controversy first raised by Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys. In a detailed post on X, Vembo not only responded to the controversial idea, but raised fundamental questions about its necessity and consequences.

“The rationale behind the 70-hour workweek is that it is essential for economic development,” Fembo wrote. Drawing parallels from East Asia, he pointed to economic growth in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China, achieved through what he called “punitive levels of action.” But he said these countries now face demographic crises, with birth rates so low that their governments are “begging people to have children.”

Vembu raised two thought-provoking questions: “Is such hard work necessary for economic development? Is such development worth the price of lonely old age for a large number of people?” His answers diverged from Murthy’s position.

In response to the first question, Fembo suggested that extreme hard work is not necessary for everyone. “It’s enough that only a small percentage of the population drives themselves hard – maybe 2-5%. The rest can maintain a decent work-life balance,” he said, adding that he belongs to the camp that works intensely but doesn’t impose it on others.

Regarding the second question, Fembo was unequivocal. “No, it’s not worth it,” he said, rejecting the idea of ​​replicating the Chinese economic model at the expense of demographic decline. He warned against India following the same path, noting that “India has already reached the replacement level in fertility rates, and further decline to East Asian levels will not be good.”

“I believe we can develop without having to act on demographic suicide,” Vembo concluded with a vision of balanced growth.