Share of women overworking in factories surge; at 11-year high in 2019

A latest data released by the labour bureau has shown that the share of women working overtime in factories has increased to 33.6% in 2019. This is a 11-year high. In 2008, the share of women working overtime was 39.2%.

Meanwhile, only 27.9% of men worked more than the statutorily-mandated hours. This is from a compilation of data furnished by states and union territories. As per the Factories Act, 1948 the maximum mandated working hour is 48 hours in a week.

As per the data, 58.5% of the women worked between 45 and 48 hours weekly compared to 64.6% of male workers. However only 3.1% of the men worked less than 42 hours as compared to 4.5% of women.

Tamil Nadu tops the list where women worked over time followed by Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Men employed in these working factories include 77.7% and women include 22.2%.

Recently, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka made changes in their application of the Factories Act that allows 12 hour shifts and the easing of rules for night-time work for women.