Maharashtra Approves Longer Work Hours

The Maharashtra Cabinet on approved amendments to labour laws that will increase the maximum daily working hours for private sector employees.

Chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the cabinet cleared

changes to the Factories Act, 1948 and the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017. The reforms bring the state in line with Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Tripura, which have already implemented similar measures.

Under the amended provisions:

Factories:Daily work hours will rise from nine to 12, with rest breaks allowed after six hours instead of five. The legal overtime cap will increase from 115 to 144 hours per quarter, subject to workers’

written consent. Weekly work hours will also extend from 10.5 to 12 hours.

Shops and establishments (20 or more workers): Daily hours will increase from nine to 10, overtime limits from 125 to 144 hours, and emergency duty up to 12 hours.

Establishments with fewer than 20 workers: Registration certificates will no longer be required; instead, employers must submit a simple intimation to authorities.

According to the government, the move aims to boost ease of doing business, attract investments, generate

employment, and safeguard workers’ rights. Workers will continue to receive double pay for overtime.

The state labour department, which presented the proposal last week, argued that the changes will create a more flexible work environment, address long-standing concerns of both employees and employers, and improve conditions for women in the workforce.