How daily and weekly hour limits, spread-over, rest intervals, weekly offs and overtime pay work across the Factories Act, the state Shops & Establishments Acts and the OSH Code — plus a state comparison for the five states most multi-state employers start with.
Which statute governs depends on how the establishment is classified, not on what the employer prefers.
9 hours a day and 48 hours a week for adult workers (Secs. 51, 54).
Spread-over capped at 10.5 hours (Sec. 56, extendable to 12 with written permission), rest interval of at least 30 minutes after 5 hours of continuous work (Sec. 55), and a weekly holiday with compensatory off where substituted (Secs. 52, 53).
Overtime at twice the ordinary rate of wages (Sec. 59), with quarterly overtime caps in the state rules.
Typically 9 hours a day and 48 hours a week, with state variations.
Each state sets its own spread-over (usually 10.5–12 hours), rest interval, weekly off (one day, sometimes with a compensatory off for substituted days), opening/closing hours, and conditions for night work by women.
Almost universally twice the ordinary wage rate; overtime ceilings differ per state and per quarter.
8 hours a day as the normal working day, with the weekly limit and daily maximum set in the rules.
Consolidates hours, spread-over, rest and weekly-off provisions across factories, mines, plantations, motor transport, contract labour and other establishments. Several states have notified their OSH Rules that fix spread-over and overtime caps (including higher quarterly overtime limits than the Factories Act).
Not less than twice the ordinary rate of wages (Sec. 26), payable for work beyond the normal daily or weekly limit.
Typical position for commercial establishments and factories in each state. Sector-specific exemptions can override these.
| State | Daily limit | Weekly limit | Spread-over | Weekly off | Overtime rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | 9 hours | 48 hours | 10.5 hours | One day a week; IT/ITES units enjoy notified exemptions on hours and night work subject to conditions. | 2× ordinary wages |
| Maharashtra | 9 hours | 48 hours | 10.5 hours (11 in some cases) | One day a week; consecutive-day working restrictions apply under the 2017 S&E Act. | 2× ordinary wages |
| Tamil Nadu | 8 hours (S&E) / 9 hours (Factories) | 48 hours | 12 hours (S&E) | One day a week; establishments may operate all days with staggered offs subject to notification. | 2× ordinary wages |
| Delhi | 9 hours | 48 hours | 10.5 hours | One closed day a week, notified to the Chief Inspector. | 2× ordinary wages |
| Telangana | 8 hours | 48 hours | 12 hours | One day a week; IT/ITES exemptions notified with safety and consent conditions for women on night shifts. | 2× ordinary wages |
Overtime is calculated on the "ordinary rate of wages", which includes basic wages and allowances that form part of wages — not on the full CTC. Use the CTC ↔ take-home calculator to see how the wage base is built.
Where a weekly holiday is substituted, most states require a compensatory off within a defined window and prohibit more than a set number of consecutive working days. Record the substitution in the muster roll.
What inspections usually test, beyond the headline numbers.
Verify before you rely on this
Hour limits, spread-over and overtime ceilings sit in state rules and notifications, and several states have amended them while notifying OSH Rules. Confirm the current position for each establishment's state and sector — especially IT/ITES and continuous-process exemptions.
Check the regulatory update feedComplyuva maps the applicable Acts to each company and state, tracks every register, return and contribution due date, and escalates before a deadline slips.