Gujarat Clears 12-Hour Shifts At Micron Sanand Plant, Retains 48-Hour Weekly Work Cap
Gujarat clears Micron's 12-hour factory shifts.
The Gujarat government has approved 12-hour work shifts at Micron Semiconductor Technology India Private Limited's facility in Sanand, allowing the semiconductor plant to operate longer shifts while retaining the statutory limit of 48 working hours a week. The decision is aimed at supporting manufacturing requirements as Gujarat seeks to strengthen its position as a major semiconductor production hub.
The approval is the first of its kind in Gujarat and has been granted under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020. The legislation retains a maximum working limit of 48 hours a week while allowing the appropriate government to provide exemptions to factories under specified conditions.
The move means employees at the Sanand facility can be scheduled for shifts of up to 12 hours, provided the overall working time remains within the permitted weekly ceiling. The arrangement is intended to give the facility greater flexibility in organising production schedules while continuing to operate within the broader framework of labour and workplace safety regulations.
The Gujarat government has presented the decision as a measure designed to balance the operational requirements of advanced manufacturing with worker protections. Semiconductor manufacturing involves highly specialised processes and requires significant infrastructure and operational planning, making production flexibility an important consideration for companies establishing large-scale facilities.
The approval comes as Gujarat positions itself as a key destination for semiconductor investment in India. The state has been seeking to attract major projects in the sector as the country attempts to build domestic capabilities across semiconductor manufacturing and related technologies.
Micron's Sanand facility is part of that wider push. The company's investment in Gujarat has been viewed as an important development for India's semiconductor ambitions, with the project expected to contribute to the development of an ecosystem involving manufacturing, technology, skilled employment and supporting industries.
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The OSH Code provides the legal framework under which the Gujarat government has granted the exemption. While the code maintains the 48-hour weekly limit, it allows governments to approve specific arrangements for factories where the prescribed conditions are met. Gujarat has used that provision to accommodate the operational requirements of the Micron facility.
The decision does not remove the weekly limit for workers. Instead, the 12-hour shift arrangement provides flexibility in how the permitted working hours can be distributed across the week. Compliance with the applicable statutory requirements and workplace safety provisions will therefore remain important as the facility implements the new schedule.
The policy could also have implications beyond the Micron project as Gujarat continues to develop its semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. Longer shifts can potentially allow capital-intensive facilities to optimise equipment utilisation and production schedules, although such arrangements must remain consistent with occupational health and safety requirements.
For the state government, the approval represents an effort to make Gujarat's industrial framework responsive to the needs of emerging high-technology industries. Semiconductor manufacturing requires substantial investment and specialised infrastructure, and policymakers are increasingly focused on creating conditions that can support large-scale projects while maintaining labour protections.
The decision also reflects the broader challenge of balancing industrial competitiveness with employee welfare. The 48-hour weekly ceiling remains the central safeguard under the OSH framework, while the exemption provides flexibility in shift scheduling. As Micron's Sanand operations develop, the implementation of the 12-hour shift system will be closely watched by industry and labour stakeholders. The Gujarat government's first approval under this provision could also serve as a reference point for how similar arrangements are considered for other advanced manufacturing facilities in the state.
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