Gujarat govt brings ordinance to implement 12-hour shift for factory workers and night shift for women
The Gujarat Government has brought significant amendments in the key provisions of the Factories Act, 1948. Promulgating an ordinance in Gujarat, the working hours of the factory workers were increased from 9 to 12 hours. However, it capped the weekly working limit at 48 hours.
The Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department promulgated the Factories (Gujarat Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 allowing the night shift for women (under a set of conditions).
The Ordinance for the factories in Gujarat holds the following key provisions:
- Daily working hours increased from 9 up to 12 hours, including rest intervals. Cap of 48 hours in a week.
- This increase in working hours needs a written consent of the worker
- Number of working hours without interval has been increased from 5 to 6 hours
- Overtime wages will be two times the ordinary rate. Cap of overtime hours quarterly has been increased from 75 to 125 hours. (this also needs consent of the worker)
- Night shift for women allowed from 7 pm to 6 am. There are 16 conditions like mandatory preventive measures – sexual harassment, proper lightning and CCTV coverage, minimum 10 women per shift, female security personnel and safe transportation.
