PUCL Criticizes Maharashtra Cabinet’s Labour Law Amendments as ‘Regressive

Quick Summary:

• Date of Cabinet decision: Maharashtra government proposes key labor law amendments on September 3, 2025.
• Affected Laws: factories Act, 1948; Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 2017.
• Proposed Changes: Workday extended from nine to twelve hours; rest breaks delayed from five to six hours; quarterly overtime limit increased. Shops with fewer than 20 workers excluded from regulatory coverage.
• Government Justification: Amendments aim to attract investments and expand job opportunities in the private sector.
• Criticism by PUCL: PUCL terms changes “regressive,” stating they erode established worker protections and may legalize exploitative work conditions, reduce employment due to extended shifts, and exclude lakhs of workers from regulatory benefits.
• Public Health Concern: Longer shifts could lead to heightened risks like workplace accidents, health hazards, stress-related illnesses according to PUCLS cited studies.
• Demands by PUCL: Full texts of amendments be made publicly accessible; labor consultations before enactment; exploration of progressive reforms for worker welfare instead.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The proposed amendments represent a basic shift in labor policy in Maharashtra that could redefine working conditions for millions across the State’s industries and services sector. While intended as an economic stimulant for attracting investment and promoting industrial growth, several aspects raise concerns about its potential impact on workers’ rights and well-being.

Extending work hours without adequate safeguards could strain workforce resilience-contradicting global trends advocating shorter work weeks for improved productivity and employee welfare standards-as observed in advanced economies like France that cap weekly hours at lower thresholds than those suggested here.

PUCL’s warning regarding shrinking organized workforce size (reduced protections) merits close attention ahead of policy adoption given its implications not only on employment ratios but also socioeconomic pressures placed on millions transitioning into deregulated roles lacking recourse mechanisms amid competitive contractual setups dominating India market spheres delegitimizing fair practices creating sustainability despite efficient scale operative gains promising larger coverage seemingly suggestively below stricter scrutiny openness engagement consciousness framed respective corrective steps awaits public governance perspicacity critical guardrails missed focus completely yet conclusion definite positions premature representational interactivity excerpt impactful longer trajectories contribution unfold urgently broader participation inform definitive upon hearings balanced evaluative mood.Read more