The Maharashtra government has approved amendments to the Factories Act, 1948, and the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017, extending daily working hours from 9 to 12.
The state government’s move aligns with the recent amendments enacted by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Tripura. As per Labour Advocate Minister Akash Fundkar, the changes are meant to “enhance transparency and ensure better compensation for workers, aligning with industry needs.”
Following the amendments, the daily work hours limit for factories has now been extended to 12. Furthermore, the mandated 30-minute breaks have to be given after 6 hours of continuous work, instead of 5. The weekly work limit has been increased to 60 hours from 48 hours, and the overtime cap is now at 144 hours from 115 hours per quarter. Workers also have to mandatorily consent in writing to overtime as per the new regulations.
For shops and establishments with over 20 workers, the daily work hours limit has only increased to 10 from 9. The maximum overtime cap has been raised to 144 hours per quarter, and emergency duty hours can now extend to 12. The amendments have also eased up on compliance, as businesses with fewer than 20 employees need not obtain registration certificates and just have to notify authorities via a simplified intimation process.
As per the Maharashtra state officials, the reforms are intended to improve the investment climate, ease of doing business, and job creation while ensuring worker protections. The Labour Department emphasised that safeguards such as guaranteed overtime pay, written consent, and rest periods are designed to prevent exploitation and provide a more transparent framework.
According to state officials, the reforms are intended to improve the investment climate, ease of doing business, and job creation while ensuring worker protections. The Labour Department emphasised that safeguards such as guaranteed overtime pay, written consent, and rest periods are designed to prevent exploitation and provide a more transparent framework.
The state officials have also stated that the changes will help support industries during demanding times, like seasonal demand peaks and labour shortages. The government believes that the amendments will be especially beneficial for women employees, providing them with clearer legal protections for extended hours, balancing workplace flexibility with employee rights.
“Change is necessary to improve Maharashtra’s investment climate and competitiveness,” a government spokesperson said. “The reforms are about balancing business needs with wage protection and worker rights.”
