In a major labour reform, the Maharashtra cabinet has cleared amendments to extend daily working hours for private sector employees from nine to ten. The move brings the state in line with Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Tripura, which have already adopted similar measures.
The changes will be incorporated into the Factories Act, 1948, and the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017. Under the revised provisions, industries will be allowed to run longer without disruptions during peak demand or workforce shortages, while workers will remain entitled to overtime pay.
The amendments raise the maximum workday in factories from nine to 12 hours, with rest breaks mandated after six hours instead of five. The quarterly overtime ceiling will also rise from 115 to 144 hours, subject to written consent from employees. Weekly work hours will increase from 10.5 to 12 hours.
For shops and commercial establishments employing 20 or more workers, daily duty hours will be lifted to 10, overtime capped at 144 hours, and emergency work extended up to 12 hours. Smaller establishments with fewer than 20 employees will no longer need registration certificates, though they must file a simple intimation with authorities.
The government has argued that the reforms will enhance ease of doing business, attract investment, generate jobs, and safeguard worker rights by ensuring double wages for overtime. The Labour Department, which introduced the proposal, said the changes aim to foster a more flexible and inclusive workplace, with special emphasis on protecting women employees and addressing concerns raised by both employers and workers.
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