In a move that could reshape working conditions across Maharashtra’s private sector, the state cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments to labour laws, allowing employees to work up to 10 hours a day instead of the existing nine.
The changes—cleared in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis—will amend the Factories Act, 1948 and the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 2017. Officials said the reforms aim to align Maharashtra with states such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Tripura, which have already extended work limits.
What Changes for Workers?
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Daily Hours: Raised from 9 to 10 under Shops and Establishments; up to 12 in factories.
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Rest Breaks: After 6 hours of work instead of 5.
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Overtime: Cap increased from 115 to 144 hours per quarter (with written consent).
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Weekly Work: May stretch up to 12 hours a day during peak demand.
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Small Units: Establishments with fewer than 20 employees won’t need registration certificates, only a one-time intimation.
The government insists the move balances ease of doing business with worker safeguards. Overtime will require written consent and must be compensated at double pay, it added. Officials argue the change could make the state more attractive for investors, generate new jobs, and ensure industries run smoothly during labour shortages.
Labour groups, however, are questioning whether the reform places productivity over well-being. One of them told, “If nine hours are already taking a toll on workers’ health and family life, why should 10 hours be seen as the answer? Investment and efficiency are important, but so is the mental state of employees. Exhausted workers cannot deliver quality work or live with dignity.”
Labour activists also flagged the need for strict enforcement of rest breaks, safe working conditions, and mental health safeguards, warning that simply extending hours could worsen burnout in an already stretched workforce.
The labour department, which presented the proposal last week, maintains the changes will “create a more comfortable environment, especially for women” and resolve long-standing concerns of both employees and employers. The amendments will be tabled in the state legislature for final approval.
For now, the debate remains split: a bid for investment and jobs on one side, and questions of worker fatigue and dignity on the other.
