VIJAYAWADA: In a significant step aimed at boosting industrial growth, the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council on Monday passed a bill amending the Factories Act, 1948, raising maximum daily working hours in factories from 9 to 10 per shift.
The bill, already cleared by the State Assembly on September 19, gives legal backing to a Cabinet decision made in June 2025 to attract investment and enhance productivity in the manufacturing sector.
The amendment to Section 54 specifies that no adult worker shall be required or allowed to work more than 10 hours a day, except with prior approval from the Chief Inspector to facilitate shift changes.
Section 55 mandates that no worker shall continue for more than six hours without a rest interval of at least 30 minutes. Section 56 caps the daily work period, including rest, at 12 hours, with the Chief Inspector empowered to extend this to 13 hours in special cases.
Addressing overtime, Section 59 provides that work exceeding 10 hours daily or 48 hours weekly must be compensated at twice the ordinary wage rate.
Section 64 further clarifies that daily working hours, including overtime, shall not exceed 12, with a 13-hour spread-over. Weekly working hours are capped at 60, while quarterly overtime cannot exceed 144 hours.
Section 65 empowers the State Government or the Chief Inspector to grant exemptions from certain provisions under exceptional work pressure, subject to limits—12 hours daily, 13 hours spread-over, 60 hours weekly, and 144 overtime hours per quarter. Workers are restricted from continuous overtime for more than seven consecutive days.
A significant provision under Section 66 addresses the employment of women in night shifts.
With the woman worker’s consent, factories may employ them during these hours provided that transport is arranged, workplaces are well-lit, and compliance with the Maternity Benefit Act and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, is maintained.
The Govt said the amendments aim to create a regulatory framework that supports industrial expansion while safeguarding labour rights.
However, the Opposition strongly objected. While YSRCP MLAs were absent during the Assembly vote, its members staged a walkout in the Council, led by opposition leader Botcha Satyanarayana, who denounced the legislation as anti-labour and anti-women.