The Government of Karnataka on February 22, 2023, issued the Factories (Karnataka Amendment) Act, 2023 to further amend the Factories Act, 1948 in its application to the State of Karnataka.
The following amendments have been stated:
• In section 54 which states Daily hours, the sub-section (2) has been inserted:
“(2) The State Government may by notification in the official Gazette, extend the daily maximum hours of work specified in this section up to twelve hours inclusive of intervals for rest in any day, subject to a maximum of forty-eight hours in any week as specified in section 51, in respect of any group or class or description of factories on such conditions as it may deem expedient, subject to the written consent of such worker for such work, and the remaining days of the said week for the worker shall be paid holidays.”
• In section 55 which states Intervals for rest, the sub-section (3) has been inserted:
“(3) The state government may by notification extend the total number of hours of work of a worker without an interval to six hours in respect of any group or class or description of factories on such conditions as it may deem expedient due to the provision of flexibility in working hours as specified in sub-section (2) of section 54.”
• In section 56 which states Spread over, the sub-section (2) has been inserted:
“(2) The State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette increase the spread over up to 12 hours inclusive of his intervals for rest in respect of any group or class or description of factories on such conditions as it may deem expedient, due to the provision of flexibility in working hours as specified in subsection (2) of section 54.”
• In section 59 which states Extra wages for overtime, for subsection (1), the following has been substituted, namely: -
“(1) Where a worker works in any factory, -
(i) for more than nine hours in any day or for more than forty-eight hours in any week, working for six days in any week;
(ii) for more than ten hours in any day or for more than forty-eight hours in any week, working for five days in any week;
(iii) for more than eleven and a half hours in any day working for four days in any week, or working on paid holidays
-he shall in respect of overtime work, be entitled to wages at the rate of twice his ordinary rate of wages.”
• Section 66 which states Further restriction on the employment of women has been substituted.
It shall come into force at once.
[LA Bill No. 04 of 2023)]
