Maharashtra's new Labour Law: Can Mumbai’s workforce cope?

Maharashtra has amended labour laws to extend daily work hours. Shops and offices can now stretch shifts from 9 to 10 hours. Factories may extend them up to 12. Weekly limits have also been raised, with overtime pay made mandatory at double the basic wage and allowances. The government says this will attract new investment, create jobs, and safeguard worker rights. Officials stress that employees must give written consent, and no one can be forced into overtime.

Mumbai commutes are already among the most demanding in India. Suburban trains move 8 million people daily. At peak times, they run at 200% capacity or more, carrying nearly four times their design load ( as reported by Indian Express, India Today). Road travel is no better. The Eastern and Western Express Highways are gridlocked for hours, with unpredictable delays.

For many, commuting takes 2–3 hours each day, often longer. Add a 10–12 hour shift, and the total stretches to nearly 15 hours door to door. This raises a serious question: does overtime truly represent more opportunity, or simply a heavier strain on health and personal life?

Studies show that productivity per hour declines once shifts go beyond 9–10 hours. Long workdays are linked to fatigue, reduced focus, and higher accident risks. Weekly hours above 52 are associated with steep drops in efficiency and more health problems (National Library of Medicine, 2024).

In Mumbai, where commutes already exhaust workers, longer shifts risk creating presenteeism: employees being present but not performing at their best.

On paper, the law is consent-based. In reality, job market dynamics can dilute this protection. Workers may feel pressured to “agree” to longer shifts to keep their positions. Women face additional barriers, from domestic responsibilities to safety concerns during late travel. Instead of levelling the field, the reform could push some workers out.

Industries do benefit. Factories can meet peak demand without constant hiring. IT and service firms can match international client timings more easily. But the same reform imposes hidden costs on individuals, especially in cities with unsteady transport systems.

Transport upgrades: Expand the Mumbai Metro, fix last-mile gaps, and ease road congestion.

Staggered shifts: Spread entry and exit timings to reduce rush-hour pressure.

Hybrid work: Offer partial remote work where feasible.

Cultural reset: Value efficiency and results over clocked hours.

Maharashtra’s new longer workday law strengthens industry flexibility and could attract capital. But for Mumbai’s workforce, the picture is less clear. Longer shifts stacked onto already punishing commutes risk deepening fatigue rather than raising income.

The reform promises to be both pro-worker and pro-industry. Yet in Mumbai, without transport upgrades and cultural change, it risks becoming another layer of grind on an already overburdened workforce.