On 13 May 2026, the Ministry of Labour and Employment issued a notification under Section 25(1)(b) Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 whereby the Government mandated no continuous work of more than 5 hours without a break.
The notification came into force on 14 May 2026.
Main mandates:
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No continuous work of more than 5 hours without a break.
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Compulsory half an hour minimum rest interval.
Section 25(1)(b) dealing with “Daily and weekly hours, leave etc.” says that:
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A worker cannot work more than 8 hours a day.
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The Government will decide:
✓ How those hours are arranged;
✓ How long the breaks should be;
✓ The total spread of the workday.
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Special rules for Mines: workers underground:
✓ Cannot work beyond the daily hours set by the Central Government;
✓ Work must be done in shifts, no long continuous stretch;
✓ Cannot stay underground outside their assigned working hours.
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Special Rules for Motor Transport Workers: their working time includes:
✓ Time spent driving the vehicle;
✓ Time spent on related duties;
✓ Waiting time at terminals of less than 15 minutes.
Read more:
[India Labour Law Update 2026: 5-Hour Work Limit & Mandatory 30-Minute Break Explained, dt. 13 May 2026]
