The thought of a four-day work week in India has as soon as once more caught public consideration after a current clarification from the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Many staff are asking a easy query: can Indians actually work solely 4 days per week and nonetheless receives a commission for a full week? The brief reply possibly sure, however solely beneath clear guidelines set by the brand new Labour Codes.
In a publish on X (previously Twitter), the Ministry mentioned the brand new Labour Codes permit flexibility in how weekly working hours are organized.
This implies a four-day work week is feasible, however it doesn’t cut back whole working hours. Weekly work hours stay fastened at 48, and the principles round pay and time beyond regulation proceed to use.
WHAT DID THE LABOUR MINISTRY SAY
The Ministry of Labour and Employment mentioned, “The Labour Codes permit flexibility of 12 hours for 4 workdays solely, with the remaining 3 days as paid holidays. Weekly work hours stay fastened at 48 hours and time beyond regulation past each day hours have to be paid at double the wage charge.”
This implies an worker can work as much as 12 hours a day for 4 days and take three paid days off. Nevertheless, the full work time in per week can not cross 48 hours. If an worker works greater than 12 hours in a day, the additional time have to be handled as time beyond regulation and paid at twice the traditional wage.
The 12-hour workday talked about by the Ministry doesn’t imply an worker should work continuous for 12 hours. The Ministry defined that this era consists of breaks and spread-out working hours. This might embody lunch breaks, relaxation time, or gaps between shifts, relying on the character of the job.
Even with this flexibility, employers can not ask staff to exceed 48 working hours in per week. The rule is supposed to present firms and staff extra alternative in planning work schedules, whereas nonetheless defending staff from lengthy and unpaid working hours.
4-DAY WORKING WEEK ON CARDS?
The Labour Codes don’t make a four-day work week obligatory. It is just an choice that firms and staff can agree on. Some places of work might proceed with 5 – 6 working days, whereas others might transfer to 4 longer days.
The ultimate resolution will rely on firm insurance policies, state-level guidelines, and the kind of work concerned. Not all jobs can simply match right into a 12-hour workday mannequin, particularly in sectors that want round the clock staffing.
What are the brand new Labour Codes?
On November 21, 2025, the federal government changed 29 previous labour legal guidelines with 4 new Labour Codes. These are:
Code on Wages, 2019
Industrial Relations Code, 2020
Social Safety Code, 2020
Occupational Security, Well being and Working Circumstances Code, 2020
The purpose of those codes is to make labour legal guidelines easier and extra uniform throughout the nation. They concentrate on well timed fee of wages, fastened working hours, employee security, well being companies, and social safety advantages.
Puneet Gupta, Managing Director, Protiviti Member Agency for India, mentioned the brand new Labour Codes deliver readability and make it simpler for organisations to observe the principles.
He mentioned the merging of 29 legal guidelines into 4 codes reduces confusion and helps firms plan their workforce higher. In keeping with him, the brand new construction brings extra consistency throughout states and permits companies to handle compliance with extra ease.
He additionally identified that the enlargement of social safety is a vital step. For the primary time, gig and platform staff are formally recognised beneath labour legal guidelines, which makes the system extra inclusive.
One main change beneath the brand new Labour Codes is for fixed-term staff. These staff at the moment are entitled to the identical advantages as everlasting staff. This consists of go away, well being cowl, and social safety advantages.
Earlier, fixed-term staff have been handled in a different way in lots of instances. Now, they have to be paid wages equal to everlasting workers doing related work.
One other key change is in gratuity guidelines. Fastened-term staff at the moment are eligible for gratuity after only one yr of steady service. Earlier, staff needed to full 5 years to qualify.
For the primary time, gig staff, platform staff, and aggregator staff are formally recognised beneath labour legal guidelines. This consists of individuals working with app-based companies and digital platforms.
Welfare fund contributions for these staff shall be made moveable by Aadhaar-linked Common Account Numbers. This implies staff can carry their advantages with them even when they modify platforms or jobs.
Whereas the principles permit a four-day work week, it’s not a one-size-fits-all resolution. Some sectors might undertake it quicker, whereas others might favor present schedules.
For now, the Labour Ministry’s clarification makes one factor clear: India is just not decreasing work hours, however it’s permitting extra versatile methods to finish them. Whether or not this results in a wider shift to 4 working days will rely on how firms and staff select to make use of this flexibility within the coming years.
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