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New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Telangana allows commercial establishments to raise work hours to 10
HYDERABAD: The state government has permitted an increase in daily work hours at commercial establishments (excluding shops) from eight to 10 as part of its Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) reforms. Weekly work hours remain capped at 48. The move aligns with similar measures in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka is also proposing a 10-hour daily limit for private sector employees. Employees may work beyond 48 hours a week on overtime pay, subject to a cap of 144 overtime hours per quarter. The government may revoke exemptions without notice if conditions are violated. The order was issued by Labour, Employment, Training and Factories Principal Secretary, M Dana Kishore, on Saturday. Kishore told TNIE the order followed Government of India EoDB guidelines, adding, 'Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have already done this. There will be a rest interval of at least 30 minutes; employees can choose to work 10 hours.' The government, under Section 73(4) of the Telangana Shops and Establishments Act, 1988, has exempted all commercial establishments (other than shops) from Sections 16 and 17 of the Act, allowing daily work hours of 10 within a 48-hour weekly limit. Test of endurance
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Telangana allows 10-hour workdays for commercial establishments; overtime pay applicable beyond 48 hours
The Telangana government has approved a key change to labour regulations, allowing commercial establishments (excluding shops) to increase daily working hours from the current 8 hours to 10 hours, as per TOI. However, the move comes with strict conditions, including a cap of 48 working hours per week and mandatory overtime pay for additional hours. The order, issued on Saturday by M Dana Kishore, Principal Secretary of the Labour Department, will take effect from July 8, following its publication in the official gazette. While extending daily working hours, the government has retained the 48-hour weekly ceiling, meaning employers will have to reduce working hours later in the week if employees are asked to work longer hours earlier. Any work done beyond this limit will require employers to pay overtime wages, the notification clarified. The order is seen as part of Telangana's effort to align with the Centre's push for 'ease of doing business' and mirrors similar moves by other states, including Andhra Pradesh , which raised its daily limit from nine to ten hours last month. Breaks and maximum daily limits To safeguard worker welfare, the state has mandated that no employee can be made to work more than six hours at a stretch without a minimum rest interval of 30 minutes. Additionally, the total duration of work, including breaks, must not exceed 12 hours in a day. Live Events Further, employees may be asked to work more than 48 hours a week, but only with overtime pay and subject to a maximum of 144 hours in a quarter. Employers violating these conditions risk having their exemption revoked without prior notice, the order warned. Factory work hours may be next Labour department officials told The Times of India that the state is also considering a similar extension for factory workers. 'Many states are contemplating making the change following a directive from the Centre to promote ease of doing business,' an official said. The changes have sparked debate, with some industry players welcoming the flexibility and others raising concerns about employee wellbeing. A poll accompanying the announcement asked the public whether they support the change, with responses likely to influence future decisions, particularly if the government extends these rules to factories. With the order set to take effect in just a few days, commercial establishments, especially those in the hospitality, IT, and ITeS sectors, are expected to begin adjusting their internal schedules and HR policies accordingly. With inputs from TOI Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
New Indian Express
03-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Sigachi Industries refutes reactor blast as cause of tragedy, confirms 38 dead
SANGAREDDY/HYDERABAD: The state government on Wednesday constituted an expert committee to investigate the explosion that killed at least 38 people at Sigachi Industries in Pashamylaram. Rescue operations continued on Wednesday, with two more bodies recovered from the debris, bringing the official death toll to 38. Another 10 workers are still unaccounted for. Meanwhile, the company announced that it will offer an ex-gratia of Rs 1 crore to the kin of each deceased. The committee, chaired by B Venkateshwar Rao, Emeritus Scientist at CSIR-IICT, has been tasked with identifying the causes of the blast and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The order to set up the four-member panel was issued on Wednesday by M Dana Kishore, Principal Secretary, Labour and Factories department. The committee, which includes T Pratap Kumar (chief scientist, CSIR-IICT), Surya Narayana (chief scientist, CSIR-IICT), and Santosh Ghuge (safety officer, CSIR-NCL, Pune), has one month to submit its report. The explosion, which occurred around 9.20 am on June 30 while microcrystalline cellulose powder was being manufactured for use as a binding agent in pharmaceuticals, caused extensive damage to the facility. At the time of the incident, 143 workers were present on-site. Sigachi MD and CEO Amit Raj Sinha, who visited the site on Wednesday, said that external experts had inspected the remaining equipment to help determine the cause of the explosion. Internal and third-party assessments are underway, and findings will be shared with government investigators, he said. Collector P Pravinya confirmed that blood samples from six persons have been sent for DNA analysis. So far, 18 bodies have been handed over to families, she said.
New Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
‘All industries across Telangana will be inspected': Dana Kishore
A day after at least 36 people were killed in an explosion at a pharmaceutical factory of Sigachi Industries Limited in the Pashamylaram industrial area, situated about 50 km from Hyderabad, TNIE's S Bachan Jeet Singh speaks to M Dana Kishore, Principal Secretary, Labour, Employment, Training and Factories (LET&F) department, about the series of immediate measures launched by the state government. From safety inspections across similar industries to an investigation into labour practices, officials are working to prevent such tragedies from recurring. Excerpts: In light of the explosion at Sigachi Industries' pharmaceutical factory in Pashamylaram, what steps are being taken by the state government? Our first priority is to inspect all high-risk industries, especially those involved in chemical manufacturing, such as cellulose, boilers, spray dryers, and similar processes. Special inspection teams are being formed under the departments concerned. These teams will verify whether such industries are adhering to safety and operational standards to prevent similar incidents. Inspections will be prioritised based on risk factors and the age of the industrial units, and will be coordinated by the Labour, Employment, Training & Factories (LET&F) department. It is learnt that the company had reportedly employed unskilled workers for hazardous work. Will this be investigated? Yes. The LET&F department will investigate whether Sigachi Industries employed unskilled workers for hazardous operations and take appropriate action if any violations are found. How serious was the explosion, and what steps are being taken to understand its cause? The explosion at Sigachi Industries is a grave incident. As directed by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, chemical safety experts will be involved to thoroughly investigate the cause of the blast. These experts will examine the site, gather evidence and submit a detailed report. Will all high-risk industries across the state be inspected? Yes. All high-, medium- and low-risk industries across Telangana will be inspected. The special teams will not only conduct inspections but also follow up on any complaints or previous reports to ensure compliance with safety protocols. What compensation is being provided to the victims and their families? As per the chief minister's instructions, the government is negotiating with the company to pay Rs 1 crore ex gratia to the families of the deceased, Rs 10 lakh to the seriously injured and Rs 5 lakh to those who sustained minor injuries in the Sigachi factory explosion.
