The Factories (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Bill, 2023

April 25, 2023

The Tamil Nadu government has recently passed The Factories (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Bill, 2023 to amend the Factories Act, 1948, in a bid to provide greater flexibility to the manufacturing sector. The proposed amendment suggests inserting a new Section 65A in the Act, which will allow factories to have flexible working hours. The Bill has raised several concerns among trade unions, and political parties have opposed the move.

The Proposed Amendment

The proposed amendment aims to provide greater flexibility to factories by allowing them to have flexible working hours by inserting a new Section 65A in the Factories Act, 1948. The proposed change is to extend the daily shifts of factory workers to 12 hours instead of the existing eight hours in case they opt for a four-day work week. The total working hours in a week will remain unchanged at 48.

Sections of the Factories Act Affected by the Amendment

The proposed amendment affects several sections of the Factories Act, including Sections 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, and 59. These sections deal with issues related to the working hours of factory workers, including the maximum number of hours of work per day, intervals for rest, spread over, and overtime wages.

Trade Unions Express Concerns

The trade unions have raised concerns that the provisions of the Bill are open-ended and can be misused by employers. They fear that the amendment will lead to an increase in working hours for factory workers, which can have severe consequences for their health and well-being.

Tamil Nadu Government’s Aim

The Tamil Nadu government aims to provide flexibility in working hours to workers, particularly women workers, and to manage production schedules better. The government argues that any change in work schedule cannot be forced on employees by an employer, and the choice will ultimately rest with the employees.

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