The engineer, identified only as Rohit, shared his situation on the personal finance podcast Fix Your Finance, hosted by mutual fund advisor Anshuman Sharma. He works one IT job during the day and a second one at night, one of which is with a US-based company.
Despite owning two houses, a car, and savings of over ₹80 lakh, Rohit says the fear of AI disrupting the IT job market keeps him financially anxious. He told Sharma he worries about what would happen if his income were suddenly reduced and how he would manage.
Rohit also broke down his monthly liabilities, including a home loan EMI of around ₹60,000 and a car EMI of ₹28,000, putting total monthly expenses at roughly ₹1.3 lakh to ₹1.4 lakh. Sharma noted that Rohit's savings already covered years of expenses and questioned the source of his stress.
The case has reignited a broader debate about moonlighting in India's IT sector. Several commenters pointed out that constant moonlighting may not be sustainable in the long run due to burnout, work-life balance issues, and potential conflicts with employer policies.
The practice remains contentious among major employers. Wipro previously revealed it had fired 300 employees for moonlighting. Wipro's executive chairman Rishad Premji called moonlighting a "complete violation of integrity in its deepest form." IBM India's managing director Sandip Patel also weighed in, noting that employees sign an agreement at joining to work only for IBM and that moonlighting is not ethically right.
There is no specific law in India that prohibits moonlighting, and no overarching legislation to stop dual employment, with IT services not among the sectors where restrictions apply. Most tech companies already have contractual clauses to restrict dual employment.
Industry reports tracking the technology and gig economy have pointed to a rise in moonlighting activity in recent years, driven by remote work, flexible employment, and growing access to global freelance opportunities. For working professionals, Rohit's story underscores a tension that many recognise: many continue to chase higher salaries despite already earning well above average because they fear future instability.
