Maharashtra weighs proposal to extend private sector working hours to 10 per day

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is examining a proposal to extend the maximum daily working hours for private sector employees from nine to ten hours, state Labour Minister Akash Fundkar said on Wednesday.

The proposal, aimed at introducing greater workplace flexibility and aligning state labour rules with international practices, was presented by the labour department during a cabinet meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday.

The cabinet has sought more details before moving forward, the minister added.

The suggested changes involve amendments to the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017, which governs working hours in shops, hotels, entertainment outlets, and other businesses.

“Once the labour codes are finalised, women will also get to work at late hours. In the existing rules, shops and establishments with 10 or fewer workers were not covered under our ministry. The new proposal raises the number to 20,” Fundkar said, while clarifying that no final decision has been taken yet. “All the proposals are under consideration,” he stressed.

Explaining the rationale, Fundkar noted that many employees in private establishments are already working beyond the prescribed hours without fair compensation. “This is one of the reasons we are considering increasing the working hours,” he said.

According to officials, the labour department has recommended five major amendments, including raising permissible overtime from 125 to 144 hours over three months, revising continuous work provisions with mandatory breaks, and updating rules to make workplaces more accommodating, particularly for women.

The department has argued that the proposed reforms would address long-standing concerns of both employees and employers while creating a more balanced and modern work environment.