Workplace flexibility is gaining traction across India as states rethink labour rules to balance productivity with employee welfare.

The Telangana government has introduced a major policy shift for commercial establishments (excluding shops).

It now allows employees to work up to 10 hours a day, provided total weekly hours don’t exceed 48.

This change aims to improve the ease of doing business in the state. However, the government has kept worker safeguards in place.

If employees exceed the 48-hour weekly limit, employers must pay overtime wages. Also, workers putting in more than six hours a day are entitled to a 30-minute break. Importantly, the policy caps total daily work at 12 hours, including overtime.

The government has also limited overtime to 144 hours per quarter. These conditions aim to prevent exploitation while offering businesses more flexibility.

Meanwhile, the national debate on work hours continues to heat up. Earlier, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and L&T Chairman SN Subrahmanyan sparked controversy by supporting longer workweeks.

In contrast, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra emphasised quality over quantity of work.

In another significant move, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed the Factories (Amendment) Act in April 2023.

It extends daily work hours for factory workers from 8 to 12, though weekly work hours remain the same. Workers now have the option to work four days a week and enjoy three days off.

Globally, many countries are already testing or adopting a four-day workweek. The trend reflects growing awareness of work-life balance and mental health.

Although views differ, the direction is clear: governments and businesses are rethinking traditional work models.

Telangana’s latest policy reflects this shift, aiming to serve both economic and human needs.

With proper enforcement and monitoring, such reforms could benefit both industries and the workforce.

Employers can plan operations better, while workers may gain more control over their time.

The outcome depends on fair implementation and adherence to the designated labour rules.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on April 05, 2017

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1366738