The Factories (Rajasthan Amendment) Act, 2025

(1) This Act may be called the Factories (Rajasthan Amendment) Act, 2025. (2) It shall extend to the whole of the State of Rajasthan. (3) It shall come into force at once.

In section 54 of the Factories Act, 1948 (Central Act No. 63 of 1948), in its application to the State of Rajasthan, hereinafter referred to as the principal Act,- (i) the existing provision shall be numbered as sub-section (1); and (ii) after the sub-section (1) so numbered, the following new sub-section shall be added, namely:- "(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, extend the daily maximum hours of work specified in this section up to ten hours inclusive of interval for rest in any day, subject to a maximum of forty-eight hours in any week as specified in section 51, in respect of any group or class or description of factories on such conditions as it may deem expedient, and the remaining days of the said week for the worker shall be paid holidays."

In section 55 of the principal Act, after sub-section (2), the following new sub-section shall be added, namely:- "(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and (2), the State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, extend the total number of hours of work of a worker without an interval to six hours in respect of any group or class or description of factories on such conditions as it may deem expedient due to the provision of flexibility in working hours as specified in sub-section (2) of section 54."

In section 56 of the principal Act,- (i) the existing provision shall be numbered as sub-section (1); and (ii) after the sub-section (1) so numbered, the following new sub-section shall be added, namely:- "(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, increase the spread over up to 12 hours inclusive of his intervals for rest in respect of any group or class or description of factories on such conditions as it may deem expedient, due to the provision of flexibility in working hours as specified in sub-section (2) of section 54."

In section 64 of the principal Act,- (a) the existing expression in sub-section (1) "other than the provisions of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 66 and of the proviso to that sub-section," shall be deleted. (b) in clause (iv) of sub-section (4), for the existing word "fifty", the words "one hundred" shall be substituted.

In sub-section (3) of section 65 of the principal Act,- (i) in clause (iv), for the existing words "seventy-five", the words "one hundred and forty four" shall be substituted; (ii) after the clause (iv) so amended, the following new clause shall be added, namely:- "(v) a worker may be required to work for overtime subject to the consent of such worker for such work except worker required to work for safety activities."

In sub-section (1) of section 66 of the principal Act, for the existing clause (b), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:-

"(b) women shall be entitled to be employed in all factories for all types of work and they may also be employed, with their written consent before 6 A.M. and beyond 7 P.M. subject to such conditions relating to safety and security measures or safeguards, holidays and working hours or any other condition, to be observed by the occupier, as may be prescribed.".