The Government of West Bengal on May 21, 2026, issued a notification dated 14 May 2026 permitting factories to engage adult workers beyond the normal daily and weekly working hour limits in cases of exceptional pressure of work. The notification has been issued under the powers conferred by the Factories Act, 1948 as part of the State's efforts to improve ease of doing business and provide operational flexibility to industries.
Under the notification, the total working hours, including spread-over and rest intervals, may extend up to 12 hours per day and 72 hours per week. However, no worker can be required or allowed to work overtime for more than seven consecutive days, and the total overtime worked by a worker cannot exceed 144 hours in a quarter. Workers performing overtime beyond 9 hours in a day or 48 hours in a week must be paid wages at twice the ordinary rate.
Factories availing this relaxation must obtain prior consent from workers before assigning overtime and continue to comply with all applicable provisions relating to occupational safety, health, welfare, and maintenance of statutory records and registers. The notification has come into force with immediate effect and will remain operative until further orders from the State Government.
[Notification No. LABR/773076(LW/MW)/2026]
