Haryana Cabinet clears Factories Ordinance; women can work near machinery

In a significant labour reform move, the Haryana Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, on Monday approved The Factories (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, modernising key provisions of the Factories Act, 1948, to align with present-day industrial practices and gender parity goals.

The amendment mandates that every factory management must issue a formal appointment letter to each worker at the time of joining, ensuring transparency and legal protection for both employers and employees.

In a progressive step towards gender inclusivity, the government has lifted the outdated restriction that prohibited women from working on or near machinery, including cotton openers. Employers will, however, be required to ensure adequate safety measures and protective gear for women workers.

“The amendment also replaces imprisonment clauses for minor procedural or economic offences with monetary penalties, ensuring effective enforcement without criminalising small business owners,” said a government spokesperson. “The penalties have been rationalised to promote compliance and accountability in a fair and facilitative manner.”

Flexible work schedules, higher overtime limits

To promote industrial efficiency, the Ordinance allows factories to operate on either five-day or six-day work weeks while keeping the 48-hour weekly cap intact. The permissible overtime limit has been raised from 115 to 144 hours per quarter, with workers entitled to double wages for all extra hours.

The Cabinet also approved the Haryana Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, extending its applicability to establishments employing 20 or more workers. Registration will now be automated through self-certification on an online portal.

Working hour flexibility, enhanced overtime (up to 156 hours quarterly) and mandatory issuance of appointment letters and ID cards are also part of this Ordinance.

New teacher transfer policy approved

The Cabinet also approved the Teachers’ Transfer Policy, 2025, introducing major reforms aimed at transparency and flexibility in the posting process.

Under the new policy, the concept of zoning has been abolished, allowing teachers to opt for any school across the state directly, rather than being restricted to predefined zones.

However, the existing provision of additional allowance for teachers of the Rest of Haryana (RoH) cadre who opt for postings in Nuh district and Hathin and Morni blocks remains unchanged from the 2023 policy. Teachers belonging to the Mewat cadre will continue to serve only within their cadre.

The school allotment will now be determined by a composite score out of 80 points, with age carrying the highest weightage of 60 points. Special categories — including women, women-headed households, widows, widowers, differently abled teachers, those with serious ailments and couple cases — will receive up to 20 additional points.

A deduction of 10 marks will apply to teachers facing any major penalty. Teachers dissatisfied with their postings may file representations before the competent authority for redressal.

Punjab Village Common Lands Rules

Five per cent of leased land will now be reserved for persons with disabilities (60% and above). The government also cleared the leasing of land for ‘Gau Abhyarans’ to the Animal Husbandry Department or Haryana Gau Sewa Aayog for 20 years at Rs 5,100 per acre per year.

Guv’s discretionary grant

The annual grant has been raised from Rs 6 crore to Rs 8 crore, effective from FY 2025-26.

Abadi Deh Ordinance

Approved to confer ownership rights on occupants in village abadi areas, based on drone surveys and property card records.