The Maharashtra government is reviewing draft amendments to the Shops and Establishments Act, 2017, that could increase the daily working limit for private-sector employees from nine to ten hours. The proposal, recently presented to the state cabinet in Mumbai, is aimed at bringing greater flexibility to workplaces while aligning state labour laws with global practices.
As part of the draft, the coverage threshold for establishments under the Act would also be revised, raising the minimum number of workers from 10 to 20. The proposal includes around five major amendments, among them an increase in permissible overtime from 125 to 144 hours in a three-month period and revisions to rules governing continuous working hours with mandatory breaks.
Officials have argued that the measures would modernise the legal framework, make compliance more practical for businesses, and provide clarity around employee protections. One stated objective is to address the growing gap between prescribed working hours and the reality of extended shifts in many establishments, where employees often work beyond legal limits without proper compensation. By formalising these practices within law, the government aims to create a more regulated and transparent system.
The proposed amendments are currently under detailed review, with the cabinet seeking additional inputs from the labour department before moving toward a final decision.
