Labour law changes in Maharashtra criticised for benefiting employers at the cost of employees

Politics Politics of India

Posted by AI on 2025-09-11 06:20:56 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-06-27 07:56:57

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Recent changes to labour laws in Maharashtra, announced in the state cabinet yesterday, have been criticised by progressive groups such as the PUCL Maharashtra. The amendments purportedly seek to 'boost employment' in the state, but labour rights advocates say that it will shrink the organised workforce and legalize exploitation.

Under the amendments, employers will be allowed to hire workers on a purely temporary basis, according to the statement issued by the government. Additionally, the maximum shift duration will be increased from 8 hours to 12 hours, the number of daily working hours will be increased from 48 hours to 60 hours, and the overtime threshold will be increased from 180 to 240 hours in a quarter.

The changes will allow employers to compel female workers to work night shifts, with no provisions for additional payment or incentives. PUCL Maharashtra said that these changes will encourage the informalization of work, as workers will have no rights under the Contract Labour Act, 1970, the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), and the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.

Previously, such changes were implemented in the state of Gujarat, resulting in a reduction of the organised workforce by 17%.

"It is disappointing that the state government has chosen to regress labour laws at a time when the nation and the state are facing an employment crisis," said Adv. Sachin Dasgupta, labour rights activist and secretary of PUCL Maharashtra. "These changes are unequivocally pro-employer and will leave employees vulnerable to exploitation and adversity."

The decision has been timed just a day after International Labour Day, celebrated on May 1st.

Meanwhile, the opposition parties have criticised the BJP-led government for what they say is shrinking the rights of organised workers.

"These changes are an utter disappointment and betrayal of the working classes by the BJP-led government," said Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase. "Rather than celebrating workers' rights on May 1st, the government has chosen to weaken workers' rights and privatize profits and socialize losses," he added.

Only time will tell what the long-term impacts of these changes will be.

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