Maharashtra may soon see a major change in working life. The state government is weighing a proposal to increase the daily work limit in private companies from the current nine hours to ten hours. The draft amendment to the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 2017, was recently placed before the state cabinet.
Key Changes in the Draft
If cleared, the proposal would bring several key changes. Workdays could extend to ten hours, with the maximum continuous working stretch rising from five hours to six hours. Employees would still be entitled to a half-hour break during the day. Overtime rules may also shift: the current limit of 125 hours over three months could rise to 144 hours. Perhaps most significantly, the existing daily ceiling of twelve hours, including overtime, may be scrapped altogether.
Who Will Be Covered?
The new framework would also broaden the scope of regulation. At present, these rules apply to establishments with ten or more employees. Under the amendment, the threshold would increase to 20 workers. This means that smaller businesses would be exempt, but a larger number of medium and big companies would have to follow the revised norms.
Supporters of the change argue that it could give businesses more flexibility in managing shifts and improve overall productivity. Industries such as retail, IT, and services where long working hours are already common, might benefit from clearer legal provisions.
Critics Raise Worker Concerns
But the move is also raising concerns. Labour rights groups fear that longer hours without adequate safeguards could harm worker health and well-being. Critics point out that many employees in India already face long commutes, making extended workdays even more demanding. Scrapping the twelve-hour daily cap, they argue, could open the door to exploitation unless strictly monitored.
Decision Still Pending
The cabinet has not yet given final approval. Ministers have asked for more clarity on the proposed changes before making a decision. If the law is amended, however, it could significantly reshape working life for lakhs of employees across Maharashtra, a change that workers and employers alike will be watching closely.
