The Government of Karnataka, by way of Notification dated August 7, 2023, amended the Factories Act, 1948, in relation to provisions on working hours, overtime, and spread over. Key amendments to the Factories Act, 1948 include inter alia:

i.    Allowing the State Government to increase the number of hours of work from the existing nine hours up to 12 hours, inclusive of rest intervals in any day subject to a maximum of 48 hours in any week, subject to the written consent of such worker for such work;

ii.   Allowing the State Government to extend the total number of hours of work by a worker without an interval to six hours;

iii.  Allowing women to work night shifts, subject to certain conditions and provisions for the maintenance of women’s safety;

iv.   Increase in the exemption for quarterly overtime limit from 75 hours to 144 hours, on approval from the required authority; and

v.    Overtime provisions for a four day work week, a five day work week, and a six day work week, respectively.