Shamini 
(C): Twitter
Starting July 8, 2025 employees working in the commercial establishments of Telangana may be required to work up to 10 hours each day, after the state government order that has come under fire. The weekly limit will still be 48 but the daily limit has been increased from 8 to 10 hours to increase the ease of doing business.
Retail stores, malls and shops are all exempt but the rule applies to IT services, hospitality, courier and logistics services and manufacturing sectors. Healthcare and emergency services remain unaffected. Now employers are required to maintain a digital attendance, provide a 30 minute break after six hours of work and ensure finishing the total time of work plus break and the overall time does not exceed 12 hours/day.
Overtime Rules and Employer Duties
The maximum weekly work limit still stands at 48 hours, any work in excess of that is paid overtime, referred to as overtime wages and with a 144 hour maximum cap in a quarter. Overtime wages must be paid at double the normal rate.
Businesses are also required to:
- Implement an electronic attendance tracking system.
- Post a copy of notices for work hours.
- Submit quarterly reports on compliance.
- Permit a rest area.
Failure to comply can lead to fines of INR 50,000 for each violation and the termination of exemption without notice.
Backlash and Legal Concerns
Unions and workers’ rights groups have condemned the decision to extend work hours, labelling it as “state-backed exploitation.” Critics have warned these lengthy work days have potential consequences for health, family life and workplace stress, especially if workers are not compensated. A mass protest is planned for July 10 at Hyderabad’s BRK Bhavan and legal actions are likely soon after.
Telangana can also be added to the list with Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu for the hours of work although it perhaps has the strongest iteration. As the political debates continue, workers are preparing themselves for even more hours at work under the changed rule.
