Employees to work 48 hours a week, get overtime as Odisha Cabinet amends labour law; clears 3 key proposals

The Odisha state cabinet on Monday approved four major proposals from three different departments, including amendments to labour laws, a new education scheme, and a comprehensive temple development plan at Ghatagaon Tarini in Keonjhar district.

The cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, cleared amendments to the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1956, and the Factories Act, 1948. Accordingly, the daily working hours have been increased from nine to ten, while the weekly cap remains at 48 hours. 

As per the new laws, employees working beyond that limit will receive overtime wages, informed CM Majhi.

Amendments also included a landmark decision that allows women employees to work night shifts, provided they submit written consent, with the state government responsible for ensuring their safety.

“The approval of the four proposals marks a significant step in strengthening labour welfare, education infrastructure, and religious tourism in Odisha. They will ensure the well-being of many people in the daily society,” said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

Establishments employing 20 or more workers will also come under the coverage of the amended Employee State Insurance (ESI) Act of 1948. Additionally, the amendments make it mandatory for shops and commercial establishments to display signboards in Odia.

Work Schedule and Labour Guidelines Update

• Daily Work Hours Increased: The standard daily work schedule has been extended from 9 hours to 10 hours.
• Continuous Work Limit: In any organisation, an employee cannot be made to work continuously for more than 6 hours without at least a half-hour break.
• Quarterly Overtime Limit Raised: The maximum allowable overtime in a quarter has been increased to 144 hours.
• Double Pay for Excess Work: If an employee works more than 10 hours in a day or more than 48 hours in a week, they are entitled to receive double the regular wage rate for the overtime hours.
• 24/7 Operations Permitted: Organisations are allowed to operate 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

Godabarish Adarsha Primary School scheme approved

In the education sector, the cabinet approved the Godabarish Adarsha Primary School scheme to strengthen primary education in line with the Right to Education Act, 2009. The plan aims to set up at least one model primary school in every panchayat.

In the first phase, spread over three years, 2,200 schools will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,200 crore. Each school will receive over Rs 5 crore in funding. Once the first phase is completed, the initiative will be scaled up to cover all panchayats across the state.

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Ghatagaon Tarini temple development project sanctioned

The Odisha Cabinet also approved a Rs 226 crore project for the development of the Ghatagaon Tarini temple in Keonjhar and its surrounding area. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) has already been prepared for development work across 69 acres.

Plans include construction of a pilgrims’ inn with facilities for 246 people, a dedicated Nadiya Bhandar, and a 500-seat hall for mass gatherings. The project is aimed at boosting infrastructure and facilities for devotees at one of the state’s most prominent shrines.