After Rajasthan, now it is Maharashtra’s turn to support industry, as the State Assembly passed the bill – an amendment to the Factories Act 1948 that sought to exclude smaller units (up to 40 employees) from the purview of the same Act which mandated safe working conditions. Now the bill, once cleared by the State Legislative Council, will go for the Presidential nod before it is implemented across the state. The amendment will make it possible for women to work in night shifts in factories between 6 pm and 7 am and also make it possible for all employees to work in extended shifts to make more money. The bill stresses that safety measures like transport facilities for women be in place before factories switch over to such practices. Apart from that, factories with up to 20 workers will be able to operate even at night to maximize production, as power costs less at night than during peak hours.
