Andhra Pradesh Government to Extend Workday to 10 Hours; Unions Slam Move as “Anti-Worker”
Vijayawada, 7th June 2025: The newly formed Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led government in Andhra Pradesh has decided to amend key provisions of the state’s labour laws, increasing the mandatory daily working hours from nine to ten for employees in private industries and factories. The state cabinet, headed by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, approved the proposal as part of broader reforms aimed at enhancing the state’s industrial climate under the Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) initiative.
The proposed changes have stirred strong opposition from trade unions and labour rights groups, who say the move could lead to the exploitation of workers.
“These amendments are being introduced to make Andhra Pradesh more business-friendly and attract higher industrial investments,” said state Information and Public Relations Minister K. Pardhasaradhi. “We believe this flexibility in labour regulations will bring in more employment opportunities and foster industrial growth.”
Labour Unions Decry Move as Regressive
Left-aligned unions have criticised the amendments as regressive. CPI(M) state secretary V. Srinivasa Rao accused the state government of prioritising corporate interests over worker welfare.
“This is clearly being done under pressure from the central government to favour big corporates,” Rao said. “Stretching the workday to 10 hours will turn labourers into modern-day slaves. We demand immediate rollback of this decision.”
Major Changes to Work Hours, Overtime, and Night Shifts
Previously, the cap on daily working hours under the Andhra Pradesh Factories Act was nine hours, with a mandatory 30-minute break after five hours of continuous work. The new amendments will increase the legal limit to 10 hours per day. However, unions worry that in practice, many workers may end up working for 12 or more hours, especially if employers disregard scheduled end times.
The cabinet has also made significant changes to provisions on overtime (OT) and night shifts:
The annual limit for OT hours has been nearly doubled, from 75 to 144 hours. Workers will now receive extra wages only after crossing this revised threshold.
Women will be allowed to work night shifts, a move the government says will promote gender parity in employment. However, the compensatory paid holiday previously granted for night shift work will now be left to the discretion of the employer.
Existing restrictions on overlapping shift schedules, designed to protect workers from extended fatigue, may also be loosened under the new framework.
Concerns Over Implementation
Labour advocates have expressed concerns that without stringent enforcement, the amendments could lead to widespread violations of workers’ rights.
“The existing labour machinery is already overstretched,” said a representative of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC). “Leaving key decisions like OT compensation and night shift holidays to management will only erode workers’ protections.”
The amendments are expected to be tabled in the state legislature during the upcoming session. Meanwhile, trade unions are planning statewide protests and consultations with legal experts to challenge the changes.
With Andhra Pradesh positioning itself as a hub for industrial investment in South India, the outcome of this labour reform push could set a precedent for other states considering similar moves.
