Under the approval, adult workers may work 12 hours a day, only if they voluntarily agree to it. Maximum working hours are capped at 48 per week.
Gujarat has approved a 12-hour work shift for Micron Semiconductor Technology India Private Limited’s Sanand facility while retaining a 48 hour weekly working limit.
The approval granted under Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) code, 2020, is ‘first of its kind’ as described by the government.
Labour, Skill development and Employment minister Kunvarji Bavaliya said the OSH code is intended to promote ‘ease of doing business’ and compliance while retaining the maximum weekly working limit.
He added that Gujarat has exercised this provision keeping the larger public interest, economic growth, and employment generation in consideration.
Under the approval, adult workers may work 12 hours a day, only if they voluntarily provide a written consent.The government has also stipulated that the total scope of work, including rest intervals, must not exceed 12 hours a day.
Companies under the agreement must maintain separate records of employees working 12-hour shifts and must comply with any conditions laid out by the Chief Inspector-cum-facilitator of factories. Any violation of the prescribed condition may lead to revocation of approval and legal action against the establishment.
The decision comes at a time when Micron’s Sanand facility moves into commercial production.
Micron opened its first semiconductor assembly and test facility in India, in Sanand in February this year and is expected to produce tens of millions of chips in 2026.
The state government said that semiconductor manufacturing requires continuous operation in clean room environments, where automated equipment works round the clock.
The 12-hour work shift model can reduce the number of shift changes and cleanroom entries, improving equipment utilization.
Gujarat, was the first state in India to introduce a dedicated semiconductor policy, according to the government. The state has approved six major projects, under ‘India Semiconductor Mission’, with a total investment of approximately $15 billion.
