The Maharashtra government is all set to make some modifications in the Factories Act, 1948 to allow factory workers to extend their hours to 13, and permit night shifts for women, reports said. The state cabinet chaired by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis approved the draft Maharashtra Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2025 to the Centre for concurrence.
The added rules include provisions for women’s safety, housing, healthcare, education and recreation for workers’ families. The aim for the change is to better the industrial safety for the workers and ease of doing business.
Why the changes?
The officials have reportedly said that the ultimate aim is to improve the productivity of the workers, increase investments, and generate jobs. The Centre has been pushing for Ease of Doing Business framework which includes working hours per day and week, overtime, recess periods and extended hours, reported the Free Press Journal.
As per the current rules, the factory workers cannot be made to work more than nine hours a day, extendable to 12, only after approval from inspectors. If the amendment is implemented, it will allow them work in 13-hour shifts, subject to a worker’s written consent.
This means that the threshold of 115 hours for over three months is set to rise to 175 hours, it added.
The state government has also released a notification in this regard seeking objections and suggestions, including on the proposal of night shifts for women and in hazardous industries. The deadline to submit the responses is the first week of September.
Maharashtra to increase working hours of private employees?
Apart from the factory workers, the Maharashtra government is mulling to increase the working hours of employees of private companies, from nine to ten hours, reported Hindustan Times. It added that the state cabinet may bring amendments to Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017, to make the desired modifications.
The matter is reportedly being discussed by the concerned departments, and soon the government may give some clarity.