In a move aimed at attracting more investments and to project a pro-industry image, the Andhra Pradesh government has made amendments to the existing labour laws.
The decision was taken in the recent cabinet meeting held at Amaravati. According to the amendments, changes have been made in the number of maximum working hours of private workers, overtime duty, and the working conditions of women in the state.
“The State cabinet approved the proposal by the Labour, Factory Boilers and Insurance Medical Services Department (LFB & IMS) to amend certain provisions of Sections 54, 55, 56, 59, 64, 65, 66 of the Factories Act-1948 through the Andhra Pradesh Factories Amendment Bill, 2025, as part of labour reforms to reduce procedural compliance burden on industrial establishments,” an official release from the government read.
Information and Housing Minister K. Parthasarathy announced the cabinet decisions to the media.
“Section 66(1) is related to employment of women. Women may work during night time but with safeguards like CCTV cameras, consent and transport. All this while they were restricted to small units but now they can be part of established factories. Their salaries will increase this way. This step empowers women economically and is inclusive.”
He also pointed out that the maximum working hours were being increased from 9 hours a day to 10 hours.
Earlier, a one-hour rest period was recommended for work schedules exceeding 5 hours. Now the 5-hour-rule has been increased to 6 hours. The number of maximum overtime duty hours has also been doubled.
“It is for ease of doing business,” Parthasarathy had said..
Along with trade unions, Left parties CPI and CPM have opposed the amendments, saying that it would lead to the exploitation of workers at the hands of corporates and big businesses.
A statement from the Andhra Pradesh unit of the CPM stated:
“It is undemocratic that the state government unilaterally brings in amendments to labour laws without a discussion with the concerned stakeholders.”
“In many sectors, workers are agitating because of extra working hours. Without providing a solution to this, it is inhuman to increase that burden,” it added.
Communist party leaders also questioned the rationale behind Andhra Pradesh increasing maximum human work hours at a time when technology was decreasing the need for physical intervention in the workplace.
