Is a 9 hour work day legal in India?
Asked by: Ara Botsford I | Last update: January 31, 2026Score: 4.2/5 (67 votes)
Yes, a 9-hour workday is generally legal in India, as the Factories Act, 1948 and state Shops and Establishments Acts cap working hours at 9 hours per day and 48 hours per week, including a mandatory meal/rest break. While many IT firms often work 8 hours plus a break (total 9 hours on site), companies must provide overtime pay (often double) for hours beyond this, though some recent proposals suggest increasing the daily limit to 10 hours in certain establishments.
How many hours are you legally allowed to work in a day in India?
Employees may not work more than 9 hours in a single day and generally not more than 40 hours per week. These limits are designed to align with the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, and are reinforced through state-level Shops & Establishments laws.
Is a 9 hour shift legal?
California: Over 8 hours in a day = overtime. Over 12 hours in a day = double time. 7th consecutive day worked = overtime all day.
What are the illegal working hours in India?
According to the Shops and Establishments Act, working hours vary by state but generally align with the Factories Act, with a maximum of 9 hours per day and 48 hours per week.
What is the 9 9 6 rule?
The 9-9-6 rule is a demanding work schedule (9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week, totaling 72 hours) originating in Chinese tech companies, promoting intense overwork for rapid growth but criticized as exploitative and leading to burnout, sparking debate globally about productivity versus employee well-being, with figures like Infosys founder Narayana Murthy advocating for it while many workers push back, noting it violates labor laws and harms health.
5 Red Flags in Your Job, leave on time peacefully.
Is 996 work culture illegal?
The 996 working hour system (Chinese: 996工作制) is a work schedule that derives its name from its requirement that workers clock in from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, 6 days per week, resulting in employees working 12 hours per day and 72 hours per week. It is practiced illegally by some companies in China.
What's replacing the 9 to 5 workday?
The future of work is microshifting. The 9-to-5 workday is fading fast. In today's remote and hybrid era, employees are reimagining how and when they work. Instead of organizing life around rigid office hours, they're structuring work around life.
Is 90 hour work week illegal in India?
Varsha Kripalani, Partner and Head of Human Resource and Industrial Law Practice at SNG and Partners, cited Section 8 of the Delhi Shops and Establishment Act, which mandates that no employee should work more than nine hours a day or 48 hours a week.
How many hours can you work before it's illegal?
The Act requires that employees must receive at least the minimum wage and may not be employed for more than 40 hours in a week without receiving at least one and one-half times their regular rates of pay for the overtime hours.
Can I work 75 hours a week?
Your employer cannot make you work longer than an average of 48 hours a week. If you do work longer, you should discuss reducing your hours with your manager or signing an opt-out agreement.
How many breaks for a 9 hour shift?
If they work more than 5 hours but less than 9 hours, they must get a 10-minute paid rest break and an unpaid meal break of between 30 and 60 minutes. If they work a long day, say 9–11 hours, they're entitled to two paid 10-minute rest breaks and one unpaid 30–60 minute meal break.
What is the longest a shift can legally be?
In the U.S., there's no federal limit on the number of hours an adult (16+) can work in a day or week, but state laws, industry rules (like for nurses or transport), and union contracts often add restrictions, with some states (like CA, NV) requiring daily overtime and specific sectors (healthcare) having caps, while OSHA notes fatigue concerns for very long shifts.
What is the longest shift I can legally work?
Is there a limit to how much I can work each day? Yes. You should get 11 hours consecutive rest each day. This means your working day should not be more than 13 hours long in each 24-hour period that you are working for your employer.
Does 8 hours of work include lunch in India?
Although the Factories Act allows up to 9 hours, most private offices and IT companies follow the 8-hour working time in India, excluding lunch breaks. In practice, many offices operate from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM with a one-hour lunch break.
What is the maximum working hours as per Labour law?
Maximum Working Hours: The working hours shall not exceed 48 hours in a week and 9 hours a day. Weekly Holiday: There shall be at least one full day off in a week. Overtime: When the employee extends his or her working hours beyond the prescribed hours, they must be paid at double the regular pay rate.
Does working 8 hours include lunch?
An 8-hour workday generally refers to paid work time, so it usually does not include an unpaid lunch break; you're typically at work for 9 hours (8 hours work + 1-hour lunch) to complete 8 paid hours, though some companies might offer paid breaks or have shorter shifts where lunch is included, so it depends on your employer's policy and state laws. Federal law doesn't mandate meal breaks but requires short rest breaks (5-20 mins) to be paid, while longer meal breaks (30+ mins) are usually unpaid and separate from work hours.
Is 8 to 4 an 8 hour shift?
The 8-4 standard day shift schedule is a fixed work schedule where employees work from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, totaling an 8-hour workday with an hour-long break. This schedule has gained prominence due to its ability to align with the traditional societal structure while accommodating modern work demands.
What is the 8 and 80 rule?
The "8/80 rule" refers to an overtime exception in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for certain healthcare facilities, allowing them to pay overtime (1.5x regular rate) for hours over 8 in a workday or 80 in a 14-day period, rather than the standard 40-hour workweek rule, provided there's an agreement with employees. It's an alternative to the typical overtime calculation, offering scheduling flexibility for hospitals and residential care, but it requires strict adherence to the 14-day period and prohibits using both systems for one employee.
What is the 7 minute rule for clocking in?
To calculate time using the 7-minute rounding rule: Look at the minutes past the quarter-hour. If it's 0-7 minutes, round down to the quarter-hour. If it's 8-14 minutes, round up to the next quarter-hour. For example, 8:07 AM rounds to 8:00 AM, while 8:08 AM rounds to 8:15 AM.
Is a 10 hour shift legal in India?
Many employers overlook that making staff work 10–12 hours a day without fair pay or rest isn't just exploitative — it's illegal. Under the Factories Act, 1948, employees are entitled to a maximum of 9 hours a day, 48 hours a week, with proper breaks and double pay for overtime.
Is 100 hours a week legal?
For adult employees, there is no legal limit to the number of hours that one can work per week, but the Fair Labor Standards Act dictates standards for overtime pay in both the private and public sectors.
Who started the 8 hour work day in India?
1928: Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar first advocated for the 8-hour workday at the Indian Labour Conference. This was a demand made on behalf of workers during British rule, long before he was part of the government.
What is the 42% rule for burnout?
The "42% rule for burnout" suggests dedicating roughly 10 hours (42%) of your 24-hour day to rest and recovery—sleep, stress-reducing activities, hobbies, movement, and connection—to combat chronic stress and prevent burnout, a concept popularized by health scientist Amelia Nagoski. It's a science-backed guideline emphasizing that true productivity requires balancing work with non-negotiable downtime for recharging, rather than just pushing through constant busyness.
Why are Gen Z not getting hired?
Gen Z struggles to find jobs due to a shrinking pool of entry-level roles, increased competition, a shift to skills-based hiring favoring older workers, and AI impacting junior positions, alongside employer concerns about perceived lack of motivation or professionalism, while economic factors and over-hiring by companies post-pandemic also tighten the market, making it harder for young people to get their foot in the door.
What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?
Yes, jobs paying over $400,000 without a college degree exist, with Walmart Store Managers being a prominent example due to increased bonuses and stock, while other high earners include roles in enterprise tech sales, commercial real estate, high-level trades (like nuclear operators, air traffic controllers), and self-made entrepreneurs/influencers, all relying on high skill, performance, and market demand, not just degrees, according to sources from Tallo and The Wall Street Journal.