The government is considering amending the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017. As per the proposed changes, the state may raise the daily maximum working hours for private sector employees.

Officials said the department has suggested five major changes:

  • Extending the daily work hours from nine to ten.
  • Increasing the overtime cap from 125 to 144 hours in three months
  • Updating the rules on continuous work hours with mandatory breaks.
  • Allowing women to work later hours.
  • Shops and establishments with 20 or more employees will now fall under the Act. Earlier, only those with more than 10 workers were covered.

The proposal was presented by the state labour department to the cabinet in Mumbai. This law governs working hours in shops, lodging facilities, entertainment venues, and other establishments.

As per reports, the government is studying the proposal. The goal is to bring more flexibility to the workplace and align state rules with global standards. The cabinet has asked the labour department to provide more details before any decision is taken.

Sources suggest that many employees in private establishments are already working longer hours without proper pay. The department said the revisions are meant to resolve long-standing issues for both employers and workers. It also said the changes would help create safer and more comfortable workplaces, especially for women.

The cabinet also cleared the draft of the Maharashtra Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2025. Along with this, Maharashtra is preparing wider reforms under the Factories Act, 1948.

Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017

The Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017 is a state-level labor law that replaced the older Bombay Shops and Establishments Act of 1948. It regulates the working conditions, hours, holidays, and terms of service for employees in shops, commercial establishments, and residential hotels across Maharashtra. The updated act introduced more modern provisions to better protect workers in the state’s expanding retail and service sectors.

Mumbai

Mumbai is a major port city on India’s west coast and the financial capital of the country. Historically, it was a collection of seven islands that were gifted to England in the 17th century and later joined through reclamation projects to form the modern metropolis. The city is a vibrant cultural hub, known for its Bollywood film industry and iconic landmarks like the Gateway of India.

Maharashtra Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2025

The Maharashtra Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2025 is a modern regulatory framework designed to govern workplace safety and employee welfare in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was established to update and enforce standards for safe working environments, building upon a history of labor laws in India. The rules aim to protect workers across various industries by outlining specific health, safety, and condition requirements for employers.

Factories Act, 1948

The Factories Act, 1948 is a significant piece of labor legislation in India that was enacted to consolidate and amend the laws regulating labor in factories. It was developed in the post-independence era to ensure the health, safety, welfare, and proper working hours of workers, replacing the earlier Factories Act of 1934. This act established the foundational framework for the regulation of working conditions in manufacturing establishments across the country.