Four-Day Week and 12-Hour Shifts Under the Labour Codes: What Employers Can Actually Do
The OSH Code caps work at 48 hours a week, with overtime at twice the ordinary wage. A four-day week of 12-hour shifts is possible within the 48 hours, but it is optional, generally needs employee consent, and must follow state rules on daily hours and spread-over. Hours beyond 48 a week are overtime.
Since the labour code rules were notified in 2026, many owners have asked whether they can move to a four-day week with 12-hour shifts. The short answer: possibly, within limits, and not without paperwork.
The limits
Under the OSH Code and its 2026 Central Rules:
| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Normal working hours | 8 hours a day, 48 hours a week |
| Overtime | Paid at twice the ordinary rate of wages |
| Overtime cap | Set by the rules, reported at 144 hours a quarter under the Central Rules |
| Weekly rest | At least one day a week |
The four-day week
The rules allow an employer to arrange working hours so the weekly total stays at 48. In principle, that means four 12-hour days followed by three days off, without paying overtime for the extra daily hours.
The conditions:
- ✓it is not compulsory, and employers choose whether to offer it;
- ✓it generally needs employee consent and must follow state rules for your type of establishment, which may limit daily hours or spread-over;
- ✓hours beyond 48 in the week are overtime, at twice the wage;
- ✓rest intervals and the spread-over limit for the day still apply.
Where it works
- ✓Continuous-process plants with crews rotating on 12-hour shifts.
- ✓IT and back-office teams that want longer weekends.
- ✓Warehouses with peak days.
It suits work that is not physically heavy. For heavy manual work, 12-hour days raise safety risks.
A worked example
A Sanand auto-parts unit runs two 12-hour shifts. Crew A works Monday to Thursday, Crew B works Thursday to Sunday, each 48 hours a week. Any hour beyond 48 for an individual worker is paid at twice the ordinary hourly wage. Attendance is captured by biometric punches, and the system flags anyone crossing 48 hours.
What to set up
- Check your state's rules under the OSH Code for daily hours, spread-over and rest intervals.
- Take written consent from the employees involved.
- Update standing orders or service rules, where they apply.
- Configure attendance to count weekly hours, not just daily.
- Pay overtime at twice the rate for hours above 48, and keep overtime within the quarterly cap.
Frequently asked questions
Does a four-day week reduce leave?
No. Annual leave entitlement is based on days worked under the Code, so check how your leave policy counts a 12-hour day.
Is overtime still twice the rate if the employee agrees otherwise?
Yes. The rate is set by law.
Can women work 12-hour night shifts?
Only with consent and the safety conditions set by state rules.
Sources
- ✓Working hours, overtime and leave under the labour codes 2026, LawSikho
- ✓Will a four-day week become reality under the new rules? Business Today
- ✓New labour rules may pave the way for a four-day week, Business Standard
This is a summary, not legal advice. State rules vary, so confirm with a labour-law professional.
Written by
HR Manager, Airwix Technologies (Sleet)
Nihit Dobariya is the HR Manager at Airwix Technologies in Ahmedabad, where he runs HR and payroll for the team behind Sleet. He writes about payroll, PF and ESIC, professional tax, the labour codes and everyday HR practice for Indian employers, and checks each rule against the official notification before it is published.
LinkedIn profile →