Flexible Work Hours: A New Era for Health and Productivity

In the midst of heated debates over extended working hours by industry leaders, the Economic Survey suggests a groundbreaking approach: allowing factories to average legally capped working hours over three weeks or more, rather than enforcing them on a weekly basis. This innovative strategy promises to enhance management's ability to meet production demands and foster economic growth.

The Health Implications of Long Working Hours

Research highlighted in the Survey warns of the detrimental health effects of working over 60 hours a week, particularly on mental well-being. Employees spending 12 hours or more daily at their desks are at risk of experiencing 'distressed' or 'struggling' mental health levels.

Advancing Labour Laws for Growth and Rights

The Survey applauds the introduction of new labour laws, emphasizing their potential to stimulate firm growth, generate employment, and protect workers' rights while enabling them to boost their earnings. It critiques the restrictive nature of the Factories Act (1948), which caps working hours at 48 per week, hindering manufacturers from responding to demand surges and competing globally.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) advocates for the flexibility to average working hour limits across three weeks, a recommendation that aligns with the Survey's findings. However, during a briefing on the Survey, chief economic adviser V Anantha Nageswaran sidestepped questions regarding the push for longer workdays, including calls for 70-hour and 90-hour work weeks by prominent industry figures.