Govt allows factories to extend shifts from 8 hours to 12

Gandhinagar: In view of the nationwide lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the state Labour and Employment department has allowed certain relaxations to factories, including increasing the shift hours from the existing eight to 12.

In a notification dated April 13, the Labour and Employment department said that factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948 are being exempted from various provisions of the Act that are related to working hours of adults till July 19 th.

“We have tried to achieve a balance between the needs of industries and welfare of workers. As per the notification, we have allowed industries to extend the shift time from eight hours to 12 hours. The relaxation will be available to factories that have been allowed to begin operations by the Ministry of Home Affairs from April 20 and then to other factories as and when they are allowed to open “ said Vipul Mittra, additional chief secretary, Labour and Employment department.

Mittra said that adult workers will not be allowed to or required to work in a factory for more than 12 hours in a day and 72 hours in a week.

“The work periods should be fixed in such a manner that no period exceeds six hours. Moreover, there should be an interval of rest of at least half an hour before a worker is asked to work for more than six hours. The workers will also be required to be paid higher wages in proportion of the existing wages,” Mittra said.

He added that as per the notification, women will be not be allowed to or required to work in a factory between 7:00 pm and 6:00 am. This relaxation in shift hours will be applicable till July 19 th for all factories as and when they resume operations. Vipul Mittra clarified that the industry won’t have to pay double wages by way of overtime for the 4 additional hours. This will help industries to operate with lesser number of workers since some migrant workers may take time to return. “ This will also help in social distance as there will be lesser shift changes and lesser workers required each day. This will help industries increase their productivity with lesser labour. This is also a symbolic appreciation when the industry has paid wages during lockdown for 2 months, govt is allowing industry to take more work hours per labourer for the next three months. “ said Mittra. ,” And for the labour it will mean proportionately more wages, 12 hours a day instead of 8 hours, thereby increasing per worker income. So it’s a win-win situation for everyone. “

Gujarat will be the first state in the country to issue this proactive notification to meet with the challenge of lockdown and to help reopening the industry while following the GOI guidelines.