Govt plan to increase maximum working hours for labourers from 9 to 10 hours a day

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government is considering increasing the maximum working hours for labourers from 9 to 10 hours a day. The Labour Department has invited opinions from industrial and labour organisations on the proposed amendment to the labour laws.

A meeting was held at Vikasa Soudha, which was attended by Labour Department Secretary Rohini Sindhuri, factory owners and labor union leaders. Currently, the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, stipulates a 9-hour workday and a maximum of 10 hours with overtime.

The proposed amendment aims to extend the workday to 10 hours and overtime to 12 hours. Labour unions have opposed the move, calling it anti-worker, while factory and hotel owners have supported it. The government plans to increase the maximum overtime limit from 50 to 144 hours in a period of three months and is also considering Saturday and Sunday holidays, said PC Rao, Owner of the hotel.

The proposed amendment is still in the discussion stage and needs to be discussed in the Assembly before it becomes law. Currently, the work time should not exceed 9 hours a day and a maximum of 10 hours with overtime. However, the government is considering extending the work period to a maximum of 10 hours a day and overtime to a maximum of 12 hours a day.