Jharkhand to implement night shifts for women, increase overtime limit to 125 hours

Jamshedpur: The Jharkhand government is set to enforce a new law allowing women to work night shifts in factories and institutions within a month. The state cabinet has approved the decision, and it will be presented in the current assembly session for final approval. Once passed, the law will be implemented across the state, said Jitendra Kumar, Secretary, Department of Labour, Employment, Training & Skill Development.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the CII Jharkhand event in Jamshedpur on Monday, Kumar highlighted that the bill includes provisions ensuring workplace safety and mandates that employers obtain consent from women before assigning them to night shifts. The move aims to enhance employment opportunities while ensuring a secure work environment.
Additionally, the law introduces an increase in the overtime limit for workers. Under the new provision, the maximum permissible overtime will rise from 75 hours to 125 hours per quarter. Workers will be entitled to double wages for overtime, and their consent will be required before assigning additional hours.
The bill also simplifies licensing regulations for businesses. Currently, licenses are issued for a fixed period of 10 years. Under the new law, entrepreneurs will have the flexibility to choose a license period ranging from one to 15 years, paying the corresponding fee as per their preference.