Latest news with #FactoriesAct1948
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Gujarat amends factory law to allow night shifts for women, longer working hours
The Gujarat government has amended the Factories Act 1948 to allow women to work night shifts between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. with prescribed safety measures, while also increasing the maximum daily working hours from nine to twelve. The Factories (Gujarat Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, which came into effect on July 1, maintains the weekly 48-hour work limit but introduces several changes to labour regulations. Under the new provisions, factories can extend work shifts to twelve hours per day, including intervals, with workers' written consent. Overtime wages will be paid at double the ordinary rate, and the quarterly overtime limit has been raised from 75 to 125 hours. For women opting for night shifts, employers must implement safety protocols including adequate lighting, CCTV surveillance, female security personnel, and secure transportation. A minimum of ten women must be scheduled per night shift, and no worker can be compelled to work on night shifts without written consent. Written consent must The newly promulgated ordinance explicitly prohibits compulsory night shifts for women workers, requiring factories to secure written consent from any female employee opting for such duties. Implemented during the Gujarat Legislative Assembly's recess, these amendments seek to enhance operational flexibility in industrial establishments to stimulate investment and job creation. Key modifications include revisions to Section 54 of the Factories Act, permitting an extension of daily working hours from nine to twelve, while maintaining the 48-hour weekly limit and mandating employee consent. Additional provisions authorise the State government to increase continuous working periods without breaks from five to six hours. The existing overtime wage structure remains unchanged at double the standard rate, though the quarterly overtime threshold has been elevated from 75 to 125 hours – subject to workers' explicit written approval in all cases
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Adityapur entrepreneurs seek extension of factory license return filing date
Jamshedpur: The Adityapur industrial area entrepreneurs have sought from the department of factories to extend the factory license annual return filing date. The factory owners have said that on-line filing of the return is exhaustive and complex due to which several entrepreneurs are experiencing difficulty in filing the return. "The return filing demands comprehensive details about the safety measures, working hours, workers strength including permanent and temporary, vendors workforce, compliance with labour laws, wages, etc," said Sameer Singh, factory owner and member of the Industrial Stability and Reforms Organization (ISRO), a representative body of the entrepreneurs of Adityapur. The department of factories in April this year issued notification making it mandatory for the micro and small industries to file factory license returns by June 30. The factory license annual return provision, under the Factories Act 1948, was there for all manufacturing plants including micro, small, medium and heavy industries but it was not mandatory for the micro and small units. "We have given a representation to the Chief Inspector of Factory Manish Kumar and have requested him to exclude micro and small units from the mandatory clause," said Santosh Khetan, senior entrepreneur and former president of Adityapur Small Industries Association (ASIA). Earlier this week, both ASIA and ISRO organized special camps wherein the expert hands assisted the factory owners in filing the return. About 250 plus entrepreneurs filed their return at the camps but several have not filed the return yet. "We would urge the industry department to set-up help desk and give more time for filing the return. The best would be to remove the mandatory clause," said entrepreneur Mahesh Sonthalia. Notably the industrial area houses 1000 plus factories with the overwhelming majority being the ancillaries of the Tata Motors plant. The Chief of Factory, Manish Kumar, has said that extending the last date for filing the return is a matter which is at the discussion level in the department but nothing can be said at this point of time. The officer said that there's no possibility of either dropping the mandatory clause or excluding the micro and small units from the compliance provision for now as it is a policy decision of the state government.
