Mumbai, Sept. 4 -- The state government on Wednesday approved the amendment of labour laws to increase the maximum daily working hours for private sector employees from the current nine hours to 10, provided the employer gives overtime compensation for the extra hour. The state government has also decided to increase the daily working hours in factories and industries from nine hours to 12, with a similar overtime pay condition. The increased hours would be applicable only with the employees' consent, officials said. The decision, taken during a state cabinet meeting on Wednesday, will be implemented by amending the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017, and the Factories Act, 1948. The move is aimed at attracting investments, generating employment and safeguarding workers' rights, according to an official statement from the state government. It brings Maharashtra in line with states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Tripura, which have already implemented similar reforms. Idzes Kundan, principal secretary in the state labour department, termed the changes pro-worker and pro-industries. "The increase in working hours for private establishments and industries comes with more income for employees because it will be considered overtime. Whatever is being done after nine hours a day and 48 hours a week will trigger overtime," Kundan told Hindustan Times. According to the new regulations, employers would be allowed to ask employees to work for up to 60 hours a week and 144 hours in a quarter, up from 125. "No adult worker shall be required or allowed to work in any establishment for more than 10 hours on any day," states the proposed amendment. On days when urgent work is required, the state labour department proposed removing the 12-hour cap on daily work hours, which was approved. Adult workers will also be allowed to work continuously for more than six hours, up from the current five, if they have been given a break of no less than half an hour. Kundan said that the new work hours will be consent-based. "Nothing in the amended laws is compulsion. No one can force the employees to do overtime. They will have to take a written consent from them and pay overtime, which is double the basic wage and allowances," she said....