Maharashtra May Increase Private Sector Work Hours to 10 Per Day
Maharashtra is considering a proposal that could change the daily work schedule for private sector employees. According to PTI, Labour Minister Akash Fundkar said the state is looking at increasing the maximum daily working hours from nine to ten. The proposal was presented by the labour department during a recent cabinet meeting in Mumbai and is under review before any final decision is made.
If approved, the changes would require amendments to the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017. This law currently sets working hours and employment conditions for shops, hotels, entertainment centres, and other private businesses in the state. Officials say the updates aim to align state labour laws with international practices and introduce more flexibility at workplaces.
Key elements being studied include raising permissible overtime from 125 hours to 144 hours over three months and revising continuous working hour rules with mandatory breaks to ease employee strain. Another change under consideration is allowing women to work during late hours once the new labour codes are finalised, which could open up more job opportunities.
The proposal also seeks to expand the law’s coverage. Currently, businesses with up to 10 employees are excluded, but the new rules could extend to units with up to 20 workers.
Fundkar emphasised that these discussions are still at an early stage. He told PTI that in many private organisations, employees already work longer than the legal limit without proper compensation, which is one reason for reviewing the law. However, he made it clear that no final decision has been taken and more deliberations are expected.
