Overview

• The draft amendment to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act would raise the legal daily work limit from nine to ten hours and authorize shifts of up to 12 hours including overtime.
• The proposal maintains a 48-hour weekly cap while seeking to increase the quarterly overtime ceiling from 50 hours to 144 hours.
• Santosh Lad clarified that the initiative originated with the central government and stressed that no changes will take effect before consultations with unions and employers.
• Trade unions in sectors such as IT have condemned the plan as a threat to work-life balance and warned it could worsen employee fatigue and wellbeing.
• The state’s review mirrors recent reforms in Andhra Pradesh as Karnataka considers a broader overhaul of its labour regulations.