India’s workplace is entering a new era. With the four new labour codes coming into effect from November 21, 2025, one of the biggest talking points is the change in working hours — a reform that could legally allow a 12-hour workday. But before you worry about endless shifts (or dream of three-day weekends), here’s what the law actually means for you.




The New Labour Codes: A Quick Overview India has merged 29 old labour laws into four streamlined codes:

• Code on Wages (2019)
  


• Industrial Relations Code (2020)
  


• Code on Social Security (2020)
  


• Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code (2020)
  

These reforms aim to simplify India’s complex labour structure, promote formal employment, and modernize worker protections.



The major update? Employees can now work up to 12 hours a day, as long as weekly working hours don’t exceed 48. How Is a 12-Hour Day Legal?

New Delhi, Nov 22 (IANS) India’s top industry bodies and staffing leaders on Saturday labelled the implementation of the Four Labour Codes a landmark step toward formalising the workforce, expanding social security, and aligning India’s labour framework with global standards.

Earlier, most workplaces followed an 8-hour day, 6-day week format - totaling 48 hours. The new codes keep the weekly limit intact but allow flexibility in daily schedules.

Now, companies can adopt:

• 4 days × 12 hours = 48 hours
  


• 5 days × 9.5 hours = 48 hours
  


• 6 days × 8 hours = 48 hours
  

This gives employers operational freedom while offering employees the possibility of longer weekends. However, no one can be made to work beyond 48 hours per week without overtime pay, which remains double the regular wage under the OSH Code.

Why Did the Government Make This Change? The government says the reform aims to balance efficiency with welfare.



For employers, it means smoother compliance and flexibility.

For employees, it could mean fewer working days and more personal time — if used properly.



Labour Minister Bhupender Yadav said the codes are designed to “offer both flexibility and protection,” aligning India with international labour standards. The Flip Side: Worker Concerns

Biomedical engineer Jordan Green sits for a photo in his office at Johns Hopkins University, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Baltimore, Md., where his team is crafting a way for the immune system to reprogram itself with the help of instructions delivered by messenger RNA, or mRNA, the genetic code used in COVID-19 vaccines. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

While 12-hour days are now legal, employers cannot mandate them arbitrarily.



Trade unions argue that this could normalize overwork, especially in sectors where labour inspections are weak. As per
Reuters (Nov 21, 2025), unions have called the move “employer-friendly rather than worker-friendly” and plan nationwide protests.



Health experts have also cautioned that longer shifts increase stress, fatigue, and accident risks.
The Times of India reported that extended work hours in factories and transport sectors have been linked to higher safety incidents.



Moreover, state governments must still issue specific rules under these central codes. States like Karnataka, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh have already drafted enabling provisions, while others are finalizing theirs.

Your Rights Remain Protected Even with 12-hour flexibility, key safeguards are still in force:

• 48-hour weekly cap is absolute.
  


• Overtime pay is mandatory for extra work.
  


• One weekly off is compulsory.
  


• Breaks after every 5 hours of continuous work are required.
  


• Written appointment letters are now mandatory.
  


• Women can work night shifts only with consent and proper safety.
  


• Gig and platform workers will receive social security benefits.
  

So, while your boss can now legally schedule longer shifts, they
must still follow all these protective clauses.