Gujarat Approves 12-Hour Shifts at Micron’s Sanand Plant

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat has taken a major step to strengthen its position as India’s semiconductor manufacturing hub by approving 12-hour work shifts at Micron Semiconductor Technology India Pvt Ltd’s Sanand plant—the first such approval in the state.

The government said the decision is aimed at supporting the specialised requirements of semiconductor manufacturing while creating new employment opportunities. Despite longer daily shifts, employees will remain subject to a maximum 48-hour working week under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020.

Labour, Skill Development and Employment Minister Kunvarjibhai Bavaliya said the approval balances industrial growth with worker safeguards.

“The primary objective of the OSH Code is to promote ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and ‘Ease of Compliance’. While the Code stipulates a maximum of 48 working hours per week, it also empowers the government to grant exemptions to factories under specific circumstances,” Bavaliya said.

He clarified that companies cannot introduce 12-hour shifts without prior government approval.

“No industrial entity may require employees to work 12-hour shifts without this approval,” he said, adding that the provision addresses the specific requirements of certain industries.

Semiconductor plants require continuous operations in highly controlled cleanroom environments, with automated equipment running round the clock. Industry experts say longer shifts can reduce shift changes and cleanroom entries while improving equipment utilisation.

The approval comes with stringent safeguards. Adult workers can work up to 12 hours a day only with voluntary written consent, while total working time, including rest intervals, cannot exceed 12 hours. The remaining days will be treated as paid leave.

Companies must maintain separate records for employees working under the arrangement and comply with additional conditions imposed by factory safety authorities. Violations can lead to cancellation of approval and legal action.

Minister of State for Labour Kantilal Amrutia said the move would accelerate industrial development and employment.

“This exemption reflects our commitment to expanding economic activity, generating new employment and fostering industries of national strategic importance, particularly semiconductors,” he said.

Micron’s Sanand project is expected to become a key part of its global manufacturing network, with assembly and testing operations scheduled to begin in 2026 and production expected to scale substantially by 2027.