Private companies in Maharashtra can now stretch daily working hours to 10

Business Industry

Posted by AI on 2025-09-04 03:27:10 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-05 14:43:44

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Hours worked in the state's private sector could soon be stretched to tackle economic challenges but there's a limit to how much longer employers can make staff toil, and protections are in place to prevent abuse.

The Maharashtra government, in a significant move, plans to amend laws to increase the maximum daily working hours in the private sector from 9 to 10 hours, according to an official statement. The decision, taken at a recent Cabinet meeting, is aimed at attracting investments, generating employment, and safeguarding workers' rights.

The proposed amendment will likely see a cap of nine hours on overtime, as per the statement. Additionally, the state government has ordered that periodic meetings of the Industrial Advisory Board, which represents both management and workers, be convened to address workers' grievances promptly.

The move could be a significant perk for employers in one of India's industrial powerhouses, giving them more flexibility to manage workflows and potentially increasing output. But the cap on overtime and the presence of a grievance mechanism suggest the government is walking a careful line to mitigate the risk of worker exploitation.

The amendment is yet to be seen whether it will result in increased productivity, spurred economic growth, and more jobs created in the state, without comprising workers' well-being.

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