Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Longer Working Hours for Private Sector Employees
The Maharashtra government has approved important amendments to labour laws that will allow longer working hours in factories and private establishments, while promising stronger safeguards and fair overtime pay for workers.
The decision, taken at a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, September 4, 2025, amends provisions of the Factories Act, 1948, and the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 2017.
Labour Minister Adv. Akash Fundkar said the changes will simplify regulations, increase transparency, and help both industries and workers. He thanked Chief Minister Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for their support.
राज्य मंत्रिमंडळाच्या बैठकीत कारखाने अधिनियम, १९४८ मधील काही तरतुदींमध्ये महत्त्वपूर्ण दुरुस्तीस मान्यता देण्यात आली आहे. या निर्णयामुळे #कामगार आणि उद्योग क्षेत्रातील नियम सुलभ होऊन पारदर्शकता वाढणार असल्याची माहिती कामगार मंत्री ॲड. आकाश फुंडकर यांनी दिली. याबाबत त्यांनी… pic.twitter.com/ddazXdG9nx
— MAHARASHTRA DGIPR (@MahaDGIPR) September 3, 2025
Under the amended rules, daily working hours in factories will be extended from 9 to 12 hours, with mandatory rest breaks. Workers will now get a 30-minute break after five hours of work and another after six hours. Weekly working hours may go up to 60 from the earlier limit of 48, but employers cannot exceed the overall 48-hour regular workweek without government approval.
The cap on overtime has also been increased from 115 to 144 hours per quarter. Importantly, written consent from workers will be required for overtime, and they will receive double wages for extra hours.
For private establishments under the Shops and Establishments Act, daily working hours will rise from 9 to 10, with overtime limits extended to 144 hours. Emergency duty hours will now go up to 12. Establishments with fewer than 20 workers will no longer need a registration certificate but must notify authorities through a simple intimation process.
Earlier Reported: Maharashtra May Increase Private Sector Work Hours to 10 Per Day
According to the government, the move will help industries operate smoothly during peak demand, attract new investment, and create more jobs, while also protecting employee rights. Officials also stressed that the changes aim to provide a more balanced work environment, especially for women workers.
With this decision, Maharashtra joins states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Tripura, which have already introduced similar labour reforms.
What It Means for You
The new amendments will affect workers and employers differently depending on the sector:
Factory Workers
For manufacturing and industrial workers, the most direct impact will be longer shifts of up to 12 hours. While this means higher overtime pay and more earning opportunities, it could also lead to longer stretches at the shop floor and physical strain. The mandatory breaks and overtime safeguards are meant to reduce that pressure.
IT Industry
IT companies fall under the Shops and Establishments Act. Here, daily working hours may increase from 9 to 10, which fits the project-based nature of tech jobs. However, IT staff often already work longer unofficial hours. The formalisation of overtime limits and double-pay rules could finally give employees a legal basis to demand proper compensation for extra work.
Banking and Finance Workers
Banks and financial firms also come under the Shops and Establishments Act. While daily hours may go up slightly, the bigger change is overtime clarity. The 144-hour quarterly cap ensures that employees are not pushed into indefinite late-night shifts without pay. It also gives staff, especially in private banks and NBFCs, a stronger case to insist on fair compensation.
Overall
The state government wants to make Maharashtra more attractive to investors by aligning its labour laws with other reform-friendly states. For employees, this is a mixed bag: more chances to earn through overtime, but also longer working hours that could affect work-life balance.
