Employees To Work 12 Hrs Post Covid-19 Lockdown? Centre Plans To Bring In Ordinance

On the backdrop of extension of nationwide lockdown until the May 3, Center will soon bring an ordinance to give state governments the flexibility to extend the working hours of employees

This move is intended to address the issue of labour shortage. (Representative Image/ Getty)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an extension of lockdown till May 3. He highlighted the importance of the next week in the battle against novel Coronavirus. He urged all the countrymen to stop the spread of the COVID-19 disease to newer areas. On the backdrop of extension of nationwide lockdown until the May 3, Center will soon bring an ordinance to give state governments the flexibility to extend the working hours of employees across establishments to 12 hours per day from eight hours. This move is intended to address the issue of labour shortage and facilitate companies to maintain social distancing once factories resume operations after lockdown imposed due to Covid-19 outbreak in the country. According to a report by Economic Times, the labor ministry will soon bring an ordinance to enforce the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH & WC) that empowers states or 'appropriate authority' to notify working hours. The ordinance is being contemplated as the Code, which is in parliament, is yet to be passed. Last year, the bill was passed by the labor ministry in the Parliament which was later passed to the standing committee. An official further told ET that the standing committee’s report on the bill was deferred in the budget session and the bill was sent back, but it could not be taken up due to paucity of time as the session was terminated early due to Coronavirus outbreak. The government is getting numerous requests from the employers’ organisations and the industry to increase the working hours as it would serve them to address the problem of labor shortage post lockdown as migrant laborers have gone back and may not join back work immediately. The OSH & WC Code says no worker shall be required or allowed to work, in any establishment or class of establishments for more than such period as may be notified by the appropriate government.