(IANS) The Gujarat government has promulgated an ordinance that allows factories to increase working hours to 12 a day, up from the previous 9-hour limit, while retaining the weekly cap of 48 working hours.
The Factories (Gujarat Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, was issued on July 1 by the Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department, in the absence of a state assembly session.
The ordinance is aimed at improving industrial flexibility to boost investments, productivity, and job creation in Gujarat’s manufacturing sector. Under the amended Section 54 of the Factories Act, daily work shifts can now officially stretch to 12 hours, subject to written consent from workers and adherence to weekly hour limits.
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In addition, the uninterrupted work period can be extended from five to six hours, pending formal notification. Increased provisions for overtime compensation have also been included: workers will now be paid double wages for extra hours, and the quarterly overtime ceiling has been increased from 75 to 125 hours, again requiring voluntary worker participation.
A key highlight of the amendment is the provision allowing women to work night shifts (between 7 pm and 6 am), a step seen as a push for gender inclusivity in industrial workplaces.
However, this will be subject to stringent safeguards, including round-the-clock CCTV surveillance, female security staff, a minimum of 10 women per shift, and secure transportation. Crucially, no woman can be assigned night duties without written consent, and protection from harassment is mandatory.
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