Is a 5-Day, 10-Hour Workweek with Midweek Days Off Beneficial and Legal?

Proposing New HR Policies for Working Hours

I am working in a manufacturing company and formulating new HR policies. For working hours, I am proposing a 5-day workweek, with 10 hours daily for workers and 11 hours daily for staff. Additionally, I suggest 2 days off each week, possibly Wednesday and Thursday (because currently, the weekly off is on Thursday, and there is no electricity available).

Would this be beneficial for our company, and are there any legal obligations associated with this policy? If workers are scheduled for 50 hours a week at 10 hours per day, should we pay overtime for the extra 2 hours worked each week?

Kindly provide guidance on the pay structure for workers in the above situation.

Regards,
Ashok K

As per the Factories Act, the total working hours per week shall not exceed 48 hours and not more than 9 hours per day. Thus, you can fix 9 hours per day. There is no issue about weekly offs.

Regards,
B. Saikumar
HR & Labour Law Advisor
Mumbai

Under Section 51 of the Factories Act: No adult worker shall be required or allowed to work in a factory for more than 48 hours in any week.

Under Section 54, subject to the above rule, no adult worker shall be required or allowed to work in a factory for more than 9 hours in any day. Hence, if you engage any worker for more than 9 hours in a day, you need to pay overtime.

Regards,
S. Rajasekaran
[Email Removed For Privacy Reasons]

Considerations for a 5-Day Workweek

Please consider the following situation:

1. Working for 9 hours x 5 days = 45 hours. What is lost is only 3 hours.

2. Instead, if you call for Day 6, please understand the following:
- Anyway, after 1 or 2 hours, please get into the holiday mood. No proper work.
- People tend to take leave on other days to complete their personal and pending work.
- You will be spending money on office maintenance for the 6th day, including lighting/food, etc.
- We will be spending the day wasted + to and fro conveyance expenses, etc.

3. Be smart by accepting a little less. Increase productivity more in the 45 hours through improved morale, motivation, and mutual understanding relationships. It is, after all, the performance that is going to count, not the number of hours of physical presence.

Let every member consider this in their workplace, please.

Thanks,

Suresh K

[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons].