The Gujarat government has authorised Micron Semiconductor Technology India Private Limited to implement 12-hour work shifts at its Sanand facility. This decision marks a significant advancement for the state’s ambition to enhance its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. The move maintains the legal weekly working limit of 48 hours while allowing for extended shifts.

This approval falls under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020, which took effect on November 21, 2025. The Code permits state governments to waive specific provisions for factories, provided that adequate employee safeguards are in place. Gujarat’s approach aims to balance economic progress with workforce welfare.

Kunvarji Bavaliya, Gujarat’s Labour, Skill Development and Employment Minister, stated that the OSH Code supports both business and compliance efficiencies. By permitting this exemption, the state is focusing on fostering growth and job creation within the semiconductor sector.

Strategic Importance of Semiconductor Manufacturing

The approval is part of Gujarat’s broader strategy to reinforce its position as a key player in India’s burgeoning semiconductor industry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted semiconductors as a crucial component for positioning India as a global leader in technology and manufacturing.

Under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s leadership, Gujarat has evolved into a prime destination for semiconductor investments, encompassing a wide range of operations including fabrication and assembly. Micron Technology’s facility in Sanand is projected to be integral to the company’s international manufacturing framework.

The first phase of this facility is set to feature over 500,000 square feet of cleanroom space, including one of the largest single-floor semiconductor assembly and test cleanrooms globally. The facility anticipates the assembly and testing of millions of semiconductor chips by 2026, with an expected annual production capacity reaching hundreds of millions by the following year.

Regulatory Framework and Employee Safeguards

The state has asserted that the approval will include rigorous labour protections. Workers may opt to work 12-hour shifts, as long as their total weekly hours do not surpass 48, with additional days classified as paid leave. Importantly, participation in these extended shifts will be voluntary, requiring written consent from employees.

Furthermore, the total duration of work, inclusive of rest periods, shall not exceed 12 hours per day. Mandatory rest breaks will adhere to the OSH Code’s stipulations and the Gujarat Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2025.

Organisations will be obliged to maintain distinct records for employees engaged under this arrangement and to comply with any further conditions set by the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator for Factories. Noncompliance may result in the revocation of the approval and potential legal repercussions.

Gujarat’s framework appears to reflect a commitment to accelerating industrial development and fostering new job opportunities in sectors deemed vital for national interests, particularly in semiconductors. The state has launched a specific semiconductor policy providing extensive incentives and support to attract investment, with significant initiatives already underway.

As the first state in India to initiate such a policy, Gujarat has facilitated the approval of six substantial projects under the India Semiconductor Mission, attracting investments nearing Rs 1.4 lakh crore. These projects are estimated to generate approximately 50,000 direct and indirect jobs, further solidifying the state’s influence in the emerging semiconductor manufacturing landscape in India.

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