In a major policy shift, the Maharashtra government has officially rolled back its proposal to extend daily working hours in factories, shops and commercial establishments. The decision comes after the Government of India implemented the national Labour Code framework, which fixes the standard workday at eight hours.
The development was confirmed in the State Assembly, marking a significant reversal of reforms that were earlier cleared by the state cabinet to boost industrial flexibility and investment.
Why Maharashtra Rolled Back the Amendments
The primary reason behind the rollback is the mismatch between the state’s proposed changes and the Centre’s Labour Code. While Maharashtra had planned to increase daily working hours to 12 in certain industries and 10 in shops and establishments, the central law mandates an eight-hour workday.
Labour Minister Akash Phundkar informed the Assembly in a written reply that the state must align its laws with the national framework. The clarification came in response to queries raised by MLAs Nitin Raut, Sanjay Kelkar and Rohit Pawar.
According to the minister, divergence in work-hour norms made it legally necessary to withdraw the earlier amendments sent for approval.
What the Proposed Changes Included
In September 2025, the Maharashtra cabinet had cleared amendments allowing private-sector employees to work up to 10 hours a day, compared to the earlier nine-hour limit. The weekly cap of 48 hours was to remain unchanged. Overtime payment safeguards were included, and written consent from employees was made mandatory for extra working hours.
For factories, the proposal was more extensive. The state sought to increase daily working hours from nine to 12. Rest intervals were to be allowed after six hours instead of five. The quarterly overtime ceiling was proposed to rise from 115 hours to 144 hours.
The government had argued that these changes would help businesses manage peak demand, labour shortages and improve income opportunities for workers.
Ease of Doing Business Push Faces Setback
The amendments were positioned as part of Maharashtra’s broader ease-of-doing-business strategy. Establishments employing fewer than 20 workers were to be exempted from obtaining mandatory registration certificates, requiring only simple intimation to authorities.
Officials believed flexible working hours would attract new investments and make Maharashtra more competitive among industrial states. However, with the Centre enforcing uniform labour standards, the state has now aligned its policies accordingly.
Labour Unions Strongly Opposed Extended Shifts
Labour unions, especially those linked to Left parties, had strongly objected to the proposed increase in working hours. They claimed that longer shifts could negatively impact workers’ health and reduce job creation by concentrating more work hours in fewer employees.
With the rollback, Maharashtra has now officially synchronized its labour regulations with the national Labour Code structure, closing the chapter on the 12-hour shift proposal.
