Tamil Nadu Factories Bill Providing Flexible Working Hours Passed Amid Protests

Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu assured that the total working hours in a week would remain unchanged for the workers who would now have the option to work for four days in a week and avail three days leave.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly today passed the Factories (Amendment) Act 2023 providing flexible working hours for employees in factories across the State, amidst protests and claims by several parties that the Act would stretch the mandatory working hours to 12 hours from the present 8 hours duty.

Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu, however, assured that the total working hours in a week would remain unchanged for the workers who would now have the option to work for four days in a week and avail three days leave. "This would immensely benefit women workers," he claimed.

"The remaining three days would be paid leave and the existing rules on leaves, overtime, salaries, etc., would remain unchanged," Labour Welfare Minister C V Ganesan said. Action would be taken against factories, which coerced their employees to work against their wishes, he clarified.

The Ministers' clarification on the TN Factories Act, 2023, follows protests and a walkout by the Left parties, the Congress and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) from the Assembly when the bill was taken up for discussion on the concluding day of the Assembly session today.