Hyderabad: After Andhra Pradesh, the Telangana government has issued orders, allowing employees in commercial establishments to work for up to 10 hours per day, with a cap of 48 hours per week. This will not apply for shops.
This move is aimed at boosting the ease of doing business, officials said. Several companies, particularly those in the IT sector, have been demanding this.
According to a government order issued by the Labour, Employment, Training & Factories Department on July 5, the exemption is made under the Telangana Shops and Establishments Act, 1988 (Act No. 20 of 1988).
The notification allows such establishments to be exempt from Sections 16 and 17 of the Act, which relate to working hours and rest intervals, subject to specific conditions.
The order clarifies that daily work hours should not exceed 10 hours, and the weekly limit must not cross 48 hours. Work done beyond these limits will qualify for overtime wages.
It also states that employees must be given at least a 30-minute break if working over six hours a day. Also, their total spread of work and rest must not exceed 12 hours in a single day.
Employees may be permitted to work beyond 48 hours a week on overtime pay, but not more than 144 hours in any quarter. The government has clearly stated that any violation of these conditions would result in revocation of the exemption granted to the concerned company.
The order will come into effect after publication in the Telangana Gazette on July 8.
