The Gujarat government has granted Micron Semiconductor Technology India permission to introduce 12-hour work shifts at its semiconductor facility in Sanand, making it the first factory in the state to receive such approval. However, employees will still be subject to an overall limit of 48 working hours per week, ANI reported.
The approval has been issued under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020, which came into force across India on November 21, 2025. Although the legislation establishes a 48-hour weekly working limit, it also gives state governments the authority to grant exemptions to factories under certain circumstances.
“The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code focuses on promoting Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Compliance. While the Code prescribes a maximum of 48 working hours per week, it also empowers the appropriate government to grant exemptions in the case of factories. Gujarat has exercised this provision keeping in view the larger public interest, economic growth and employment generation in the state,” Gujarat Labour, Skill Development and Employment Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya said.
Why Micron needs longer shifts
Micron’s Sanand facility is being developed as a large semiconductor assembly and testing plant. Its operations involve automated machinery and tightly controlled cleanroom environments that need to run continuously. According to the state government, longer shifts could reduce frequent shift changes, minimise unnecessary movement inside cleanroom areas and allow costly manufacturing equipment to be used more efficiently.
The first phase of the facility is expected to include more than 500,000 square feet of cleanroom space. Micron is expected to assemble and test tens of millions of chips at the plant during 2026, with annual production projected to reach hundreds of millions of chips from 2027.
The approval for 12-hour shifts does not mean employees will work 12 hours a day for six days every week. Workers covered by the arrangement can work for up to 12 hours in a day provided their total weekly working hours remain within the 48-hour limit. The remaining days will be treated as paid leave.
The arrangement also comes with several safeguards. Employees must voluntarily provide written consent before being placed on 12-hour shifts. The total duration of work and rest periods cannot exceed 12 hours in a day, while mandatory breaks must comply with the OSH Code and Gujarat’s 2025 rules.
What happens if employees are exploited?
Micron will be required to maintain separate records for workers covered by the extended-shift arrangement. If the company violates any of the specified conditions, the approval could be withdrawn and legal action may follow.
Gujarat considers the move part of its broader effort to attract semiconductor manufacturing and investment to the state. It has secured six projects approved under the India Semiconductor Mission, representing investments of nearly Rs 1.4 lakh crore and expected to generate around 50,000 direct and indirect jobs.
“The relaxation reflects the state's commitment to accelerating industrial development, expanding economic activity and creating new employment opportunities while supporting industries of strategic national importance, particularly the semiconductor sector,” Gujarat Minister of State for Labour, Skill Development and Employment Kantilal Amrutiya said.
