My employer in Manali makes me work 60 hours a week, what is the legal limit on weekly working hours?

Detailed Legal Analysis

The legal limit on weekly working hours in India is generally capped at 48 hours, as per the provisions of the Factories Act, 1948, and the Shops and Establishments Act applicable in individual states.

In your case, since you are working in Manali, the following points are essential to understand your rights regarding working hours:

• Factories Act, 1948:
  • Under Section 51 of the Factories Act, no adult worker shall be required or allowed to work in a factory for more than 48 hours in a week.
  • Section 54 mandates that workers cannot work more than 9 hours in a day.
• Shops and Establishments Act:
  • The Himachal Pradesh Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1969, also limits the working hours to 48 hours per week.
  • Section 8 of this Act provides that no employee shall be required or allowed to work for more than 9 hours in a day.
• Overtime Compensation:
  • According to Section 59 of the Factories Act, any work done beyond the stipulated hours is considered overtime and should be compensated at double the ordinary rate of wages.
  • The Shops and Establishments Act also prescribes similar provisions for overtime compensation.
• Rest Intervals:
  • Under Section 55 of the Factories Act, workers are entitled to a rest interval of at least half an hour after 5 hours of work.
  • The Shops and Establishments Act similarly mandates breaks for rest during working hours.

If you are being required to work 60 hours a week, it exceeds the legal limit and your employer may be violating labor laws. You can raise this issue with the labor department or file a complaint with the appropriate authority in your state under the provisions of the relevant acts mentioned above.