Latest news with #AndhraPradeshFactoriesAct
India Today
an hour ago
- Business
- India Today
Andhra changes labour laws to raise private sector working hours to 10
The Andhra Pradesh government has amended the state's labour laws to increase the maximum working hours for private sector employees, in what it said was with the aim of boosting investment and decision, to increase the working hours from nine to ten hours per day, was approved by the TDP-led NDA government during a recent cabinet meeting. They will be incorporated through changes to the Andhra Pradesh Factories Act. Earlier, the limit was eight hours per day, which was extended to nine hours nearly a decade new regulation will apply to all private firms and factories operating in the state. Information and Public Relations Minister K Parthasarathy announced the amendment, saying the changes were part of the government's broader 'Ease of Doing Business' elaborated that under Section 54 of the Act, the working hours have been raised from nine to ten hours a the prescribed break period under Section 55 has been changed. 'There used to be a one-hour rest for five hours (work); now that has been changed to six hours,' he Act currently also allows a maximum of nine working hours per day, with a mandatory 30-minute break after five hours of continuous overtime cap has also been increased, from the existing 75 hours to 144 relaxation of rules will help attract more investments,' he unions, however, have strongly criticised the move, warning that it could lead to excessive working hours. They fear that some employers may compel workers to stay beyond the revised schedule, pushing daily shifts beyond 12 hours in parties and users on social media also voiced concern, calling the policy anti-worker and demanding that it be rolled inputs from agenciesMust Watch
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh government approves 10-hour daily workday; workers' unions protest
VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh's TDP-led govt has decided to amend labour laws to increase mandatory work hours from nine to 10 a day in all private firms and factories. The move is aimed attracting more investments and industries but has drawn fire from trade unions who argue that the move will turn workers into "slaves". Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Daily working hours were earlier capped at eight before being revised to nine about a decade ago. The N Chandrababu Naidu-led cabinet has cleared the latest amendments to the labour code. "Govt has decided to amend these sections as part of its Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) policy. The relaxation of rules will help attract more investments," said information and public relations minister K Pardhasaradhi. CPM state secretary V Srinivasa Rao condemned the move and demanded its withdrawal. "The state is under pressure from central govt to amend rules to appease big industrialists. These amendments will only make the workers slaves," Rao alleged. He pointed out that the Andhra govt had taken this "unfortunate decision" when the entire workforce in the country was getting ready for a strike on July 9 against amendments to labour laws. Under Andhra Pradesh Factories Act, no adult worker shall be subject to work for more than nine hours in a day. The Act prescribes a half-an-hour interval after continuous work for five hours in the total slot of nine hours. Unions fear workers would end up putting in over 12 hours daily if the factory managements confine them two hours past the scheduled time. The Naidu-led cabinet has also decided to amend the rules related to overtime (OT) and night shifts. Women workers are now allowed night shifts. According to rules, employees are entitled to an additional paid holiday in lieu of the night shift. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, the facility will now be granted at the discretion of the management. The overtime schedule has also been increased to 144 hours from 75 hours. This means workers will be entitled to get additional wages in the form of overtime only after working 144 hours. The existing laws prohibit working in overlapping schedules to reduce the burden on the worker. However, Andhra govt has left the decision to the management. "Increasing work hours will impact overall health of workers and ultimately performance. It is not a wise move to force a human being to work more than the prescribed eight hours a day," Dr T Seva Kumar, a general physician, said.
