Workers' groups condemn Gujarat Ordinance increasing working hours, warn of statewide agitation

By A Representative 

At a consultation organised today by the Asangathit Shramik Hit Rakshak Manch at Circuit House in Ahmedabad, leaders of major trade unions and labour rights organisations strongly opposed the Gujarat government’s recent ordinance amending the Factories Act and the draft rules notified under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code, 2020. Around 50 representatives from central trade unions, independent unions, and labour welfare organisations participated in the meeting.

The Gujarat Factories (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, issued on July 1, allows daily working hours to be extended from 9 to 12, raises the quarterly overtime cap from 75 to 125 hours (subject to worker consent), and permits employment of women in night shifts under certain conditions. Labour leaders criticised the ordinance as an attack on workers’ rights, alleging it legalises what was already informally imposed in many factories.

Participants argued that the government was pushing through pro-employer reforms in the name of “ease of doing business,” economic recovery, and job creation, but was in reality formalising worker exploitation. They questioned the urgency of introducing such sweeping changes via ordinance without prior consultation with major trade unions or legislative debate. “What economic emergency has befallen Gujarat that such anti-worker changes are brought through ordinance before the Assembly meets?” they asked.

The union representatives reminded that India has ratified the ILO Convention C001 (1919), which limits industrial work to eight hours a day. The new provisions, they said, violate that commitment and undermine fundamental labour protections. They also pointed out that the central government has not yet implemented the four Labour Codes nationally due to resistance from national trade unions, and now state governments like Gujarat are pushing through pro-employer changes through the backdoor.

The potential consequences of 12-hour shifts, they warned, include decreased employment opportunities, increased risk of accidents in hazardous and noisy work environments, deterioration of workers’ health, and higher chances of labour law violations. Specific concerns were also raised about the safety of women working night shifts. “Given the rising incidents of sexual harassment in the state, who will ensure the safeguards promised under the new rules? Will violations lead to criminal prosecutions?” asked participants.

Speaking at the event, Vipul Pandya, coordinator of the Construction Workers’ Union and convener of the meeting, said, “This ordinance is not just a betrayal of workers, it is a regressive step that threatens their dignity and rights. If the government does not withdraw this anti-labour measure, a united agitation will be launched across Gujarat.”

The meeting was attended by leaders including Naishadh Desai (President, INTUC-Gujarat), Arun Mehta (General Secretary, CITU-Gujarat), Jayanti Panchal (President, HMS-Gujarat), Asim Roy (General Secretary, Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat), Adv. Amrish Patel (General Secretary, Gujarat Mazdoor Sabha), Kailasben Rajpal (SEWA), Arun Desai (Majoor Mahajan Sangh–Petlad), Pankaj Joshi (Majoor Mahajan Sangh–Jamnagar), Ashok Punjabi (Asangathit Kamdar Mahasangh), Sharad Jagde (Pravasi Shramik Suraksha Manch), Bhavesh Tank (Diamond Workers’ Union), Ramesh Srivastav (Mazdoor Adhikar Manch), Panlal Meghwal (Hamal Suraksha Sangh), Pravin Vyas (Forest Workers’ Union), Chandrakant Patel (Shramjeevi Samaj), and Sunil Raj (Ahmedabad Kamdar Suraksha Abhiyan), among others. 

The session was moderated by Vipul Pandya.