The Rajasthan government on Monday tabled legislation in the state Assembly that would allow women to work in factories before 6 am and after 7 pm, provided they give written consent and employers meet prescribed safety conditions.
The Factories (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sumit Godara, seeks to amend provisions of the central Factories Act, 1948 as applicable in the state. Officials said the move follows the Centre’s Compliance Reduction and Deregulation agenda, which calls on states to ease labour restrictions to boost industrial productivity.
Government representatives argued the Bill would not only increase production capacity but also expand employment opportunities for women, particularly in industries reliant on round-the-clock operations.
“The proposed Bill provides for the increased presence of women in the labour force and enables them to contribute more to the economy and enhance their earnings,” officials told The Indian Express, noting that participation would remain voluntary and contingent on safeguards.
Under the proposed change, women would be permitted to take up all categories of factory work, with their written consent, outside the existing 6 am–7 pm restriction. Employers would be obligated to ensure adequate safety, security and welfare measures.
Longer shifts for all workers
The legislation goes beyond women’s participation, also revising the limits on working hours for all factory employees. Key provisions include:
Daily maximum work hours extended from nine to ten, inclusive of rest intervals.
Permission to work up to six continuous hours without a break.
Daily “spread-over” extended to 12 hours, including intervals.
Overtime limits raised sharply from 75 to 144 hours per quarter.
Officials said these measures are designed to offer employers greater flexibility in staffing and to align Rajasthan’s labour framework with contemporary industrial practices.
Labour experts caution that while deregulation may benefit employers and boost job creation, it also raises questions around enforcement and worker welfare.
“Doubling the overtime allowance and permitting 12-hour spread-over days could heighten fatigue and workplace accidents unless enforcement is stringent,” one Jaipur-based labour rights lawyer told The Indian Express. “The focus cannot only be on output—it must also be on health and safety.”
Women’s rights advocates have also stressed the importance of effective monitoring, warning that written consent requirements and safety provisions must be implemented in practice, not just on paper.
Rajasthan is not alone in moving toward liberalisation of women’s work hours. States including Goa, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha have already relaxed restrictions on women working in commercial establishments at night, under conditions of consent and security.
The Rajasthan Bill marks a further step in aligning state labour law with national trends aimed at attracting investment and expanding the employable workforce.
What next?
The Bill will now be debated in the Assembly. If passed, the state government will frame detailed rules on how employers must ensure women’s safety and how consent will be recorded and verified.
For now, the measure underscores the delicate balance governments face: promoting economic growth and gender inclusivity on one hand, while protecting the rights and welfare of workers on the other.