India can now have 3 day weekend in offices to provide a ‘flexible’ work environment

The Central government following the International laws of labour in all the countryies under its new labour codes would soon provide an option for organisations to allow their employees to work for four days in a week.

Union labour secretary Apurva Chandra said on Monday this provision will comprise a work limit of 48 hours per week, adding that organisations would have three choices:

• Four days at 12 hours per day
• Five days at around 10 hours per day
• Six days at eight hours per day

A survey conducted in 2020 showed that employees feel a four-day work week concept is at least five years away in India. Especially, given that employees, in many cases, are made to work beyond five days in a week currently.

In India, employees work way beyond 48 hours a week – crossing the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) norms of working. According to the labour standards. “the general standard is 48 regular hours of work per week, with a maximum of eight hours per day.” says the ILO website.

The changes will be a part of the new labour codes, whose draft rules are being formulated by the government. It will also provide free medical check-ups to workers through the Employees State Insurance Corporation, according to reports.

Meanwhile, work is also being done towards rolling out an online portal by June this year for the registration of workers in the unorganised sector, including gig and platform workers and migrant workers.

According to the ministry, the portal would assist in the formulation of health, housing, skill, insurance, credit and food schemes for such workers and they would also be provided with an incentive of free coverage for one year for accidental and disability cover under the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY).