The Gujarat government has sanctioned Micron Semiconductor Technology India to implement 12-hour shifts at its semiconductor manufacturing facility located in Sanand. This marks a significant development as it is the first factory in the state to obtain such authorisation. According to reports, while employees are permitted to work longer shifts, their overall working hours will still be limited to 48 hours per week.

This approval falls under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020, which was instituted in India on November 21, 2025. The legislation establishes a maximum of 48 hours of work per week but also grants state governments the flexibility to permit exemptions for specific factories under certain conditions.

Kunvarji Bavaliya, the Gujarat Minister of Labour, Skill Development and Employment, highlighted that the OSH Code aims to enhance Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Compliance. He further remarked that while the law stipulates the weekly working limit, it authorises state governments to extend exemptions in the interest of larger public good, economic development, and job creation.

Rationale Behind Longer Shifts

Micron’s facility in Sanand is designed to serve as a prominent semiconductor assembly and testing centre. Given the automated machinery and meticulously controlled cleanroom environments required, the state government has suggested that extending shifts can diminish the frequency of shift changes. This, in turn, could limit unnecessary movement within cleanroom areas, thereby optimising the utilisation of costly manufacturing equipment.

The initial phase of the Sanand plant is set to encompass over 500,000 square feet of cleanroom space. Micron aims to assemble and test millions of semiconductor chips at this facility, with production anticipated to escalate to hundreds of millions of chips annually starting in 2027.

It is important to note that the adoption of 12-hour shifts does not imply that employees will necessarily work six consecutive days in long shifts. Workers will only be required to fulfil a maximum of 48 hours weekly, with the possibility of working up to 12 hours on certain days, while the remaining time will be counted as paid leave.

Regulations and Safeguards for Employees

To ensure the wellbeing of employees, the approval comes with specific safeguards. Before working in 12-hour shifts, employees must provide written consent voluntarily. Furthermore, the total span of working hours, inclusive of rest breaks, must not surpass 12 hours in one day. Any necessary breaks must adhere to the stipulations outlined in the OSH Code and regulations set forth in Gujarat’s 2025 guidelines.

In cases where employees might face exploitation, it is mandated that Micron maintains separate records of workers participating in this shift arrangement. Non-compliance with these conditions could lead to the cancellation of the approval and potential legal repercussions.

The Gujarat government views this decision as a strategic measure to foster semiconductor manufacturing in the state. To date, Gujarat has successfully secured six projects endorsed under the India Semiconductor Mission, which collectively involve investments nearing Rs 1.4 lakh crore and are expected to generate around 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Kantilal Amrutiya, Gujarat’s Minister of State for Labour, Skill Development and Employment, affirmed that this relaxation signifies the state’s commitment to accelerating industrial progress, broadening economic activities, and creating new employment prospects, particularly within the vital semiconductor sector.

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