**Executive Summary**
The document is The Factories (Lakshadweep) Amendment Regulation, 2025, which was promulgated by the President of India on November 19, 2025. This regulation amends the Factories Act, 1948, specifically as it applies to the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The regulation will come into force on a date determined by the Administrator through notification in the Official Gazette.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendment of Section 2 (Definitions):**
* In clause (m) defining "factory," the threshold for the number of workers is increased:
* From "ten or more workers" to "twenty or more workers" in sub-clause (i).
* From "twenty or more workers" to "forty or more workers" in sub-clause (ii).
* A new clause (pp) is inserted, defining "State Government" as the Administrator of Lakshadweep appointed by the President under article 239 of the Constitution.
* **Amendment of Section 22 (Work on or near machinery in motion):**
* In sub-section (1), the words "adult male worker" are changed to "adult worker".
* In sub-section (2), the words "woman or" are omitted in both occurrences.
* **Amendment of Section 54 (Daily Hours):**
* The words "nine hours" are replaced with "ten hours," increasing the maximum daily working hours.
* **Amendment of Section 55 (Intervals for rest):**
* In sub-section (1), the words "five hours" are replaced with "six hours" in both occurrences.
* Sub-section (2) is omitted.
* **Amendment of Section 56 (Spreadover):**
* The words "ten and a half hours" are replaced with "twelve hours," increasing the maximum spreadover of working hours.
* The proviso to this section is omitted.
* **Amendment of Section 65 (Power to make exempting orders):**
* In sub-section (3), in clause (iv), the word "seventy-five" is replaced with "one hundred and forty-four".
* **Amendment of Section 66 (Further restrictions on the employment of women):**
* A new proviso is substituted in sub-section (1), in clause (b), allowing women to work between 7 P.M. and 6 A.M. with their consent if the factory provides adequate safety, security measures, and prescribed holiday provisions.
* A further proviso is added, allowing the State Government to require employers to provide adequate safeguards if the employment of women in hazardous processes is dangerous for their health and safety.
* **Amendment of Section 85 (Power to exempt on special occasion):**
* In sub-section (1), in clause (i):
* The word "ten" is replaced by "twenty".
* The word "twenty" is replaced by "forty".
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Factories in Lakshadweep**
*Impact:*
The changes in worker thresholds, working hours, and conditions for employing women impact the operational aspects of factories in Lakshadweep. The regulations may require adjustments in scheduling, safety measures, and compliance procedures.
*Action Required:*
Factories must review their current practices and policies to ensure compliance with the amended Factories Act, including adjustments to working hours, safety measures for women workers, and employee rosters.
**Stakeholder: Women Workers in Lakshadweep Factories**
*Impact:*
The amended regulations potentially increase opportunities for women to work during different hours, including night shifts, given the provision of adequate safety and security.
*Action Required:*
Women workers may be required to provide their consent for working between 7 P.M. and 6 A.M.
**Stakeholder: Lakshadweep Administrator (State Government)**
*Impact:*
The Administrator is designated as the "State Government" for the purposes of the Factories Act in Lakshadweep and has the authority to determine the enforcement date and oversee compliance with the amended regulations. The administrator may require employers to provide adequate safeguards if the employment of women in hazardous processes is dangerous for their health and safety.
*Action Required:*
The Administrator must notify the effective date of the regulation in the Official Gazette.
Key Entities Referenced
Factories Act, 1948: The principal Act being amended by this regulation.
Factories (Lakshadweep) Amendment Regulation, 2025: Regulation amending the Factories Act, 1948 as it applies to Lakshadweep.
Lakshadweep: Union Territory to which the amendment regulation applies.
Ministry of Law and Justice: The ministry responsible for the legislative department promulgating the regulation.
Article 240 of the Constitution: Article in the constitution granting the president the power to promulgate regulations.
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MINISTRY OF LA W AND JUSTICE
(Legislative Department)
New Delhi, the 19th November, 2025/Kartika 28, 1947 (Saka)
THE FACTORIES (LAKSHADWEEP) AMENDMENT
REGULATION, 2025
No. 18 o f 2025
Promulgated by the President in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India.
A Regulation further to amend the Factories Act, 1948, in its application to the
Union territory of Lakshadweep.
In exercise of the powers conferred by article 240 of the Constitution, the
President is pleased to promulgate the following Regulation made by her:—
1. (1) This Regulation may be called the Factories (Lakshadweep) Short title,
extent and
Amendment Regulation, 2025.
commencement.
(2) It extends to the whole of the Union territory of Lakshadweep.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Administrator may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.2 THE GAZETTE OF IND2I A EXTRAORDINARY [Part II—
Amendment of 2. In the Factories Act, 1948 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), in 63 of 1948.
section 2.
section 2,—
(a) in clause (m),—
(i) in sub-clause (i), for the words “ten or more workers”, the words
“twenty or more workers” shall be substituted;
(ii) in sub-clause (ii), for the words “twenty or more workers”, the
words “forty or more workers” shall be substituted;
(b) after clause (p), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:—
‘(pp) “State Government” means the Administrator of the Union
territory of Lakshadweep appointed by the President under article 239
of the Constitution;’.
Amendment of 3. In section 22 of the principal Act,—
section 22.
(a) in sub-section (1), in the long line, for the words “adult male worker”,
the words “adult worker” shall be substituted;
(b) in sub-section (2), the words “woman or” at both the places where
they occur, shall be omitted.
Amendment of 4. In section 54 of the principal Act, for the words “nine hours”, the words
section 54.
“ten hours” shall be substituted.
Amendment of 5. In section 55 of the principal Act,—
section 55.
(a) in sub-section (1), for the words “five hours” at both the places where
they occur, the words “six hours” shall be substituted;
(b) sub-section (2) shall be omitted.
Amendment of 6. In section 56 of the principal Act,—
section 56.
(a) for the words “ten and a half hours”, the words “twelve hours” shall
be substituted;
(b) the proviso shall be omitted.
Amendment of 7. In section 65 of the principal Act, in sub-section (3), in clause (iv), for the
section 65. word “seventy-five”, the words “one hundred and forty-four” shall be substituted.
Amendment of 8. In section 66 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), in clause (b), for the
section 66.
proviso, the following provisos shall be substituted, namely:—
“Provided that women workers may, with their consent, be allowed to
work even between the hours of 7 P.M. and 6 A.M. in any factory in which
adequate safety and security measures or provisions for holidays, as may be
prescribed, are provided by the employer:
Provided further that where the State Government considers that the
employment of women in any particular hazardous or dangerous processes in
an establishment is dangerous for their health and safety due to the operation
carried out therein, the State Government may require the employer to provide
adequate safeguards as may be prescribed, prior to the employment of women
for such operation;”.2 Sec. 1] THE GAZETTE OF IND3 IA EXTRAORDINARY 3
Amendment of 2. In the Factories Act, 1948 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), in 63 of 1948. 9. In section 85 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), in clause (i),— Amendment of
section 2. section 85.
section 2,—
(a) for the word “ten”, the word “twenty” shall be substituted;
(a) in clause (m),— (b) for the word “twenty”, the word “forty” shall be substituted.
(i) in sub-clause (i), for the words “ten or more workers”, the words ————
“twenty or more workers” shall be substituted;
————
(ii) in sub-clause (ii), for the words “twenty or more workers”, the
words “forty or more workers” shall be substituted;
(b) after clause (p), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:— DROUPADIP MreUsiRdeMntU. ,
President.
‘(pp) “State Government” means the Administrator of the Union
territory of Lakshadweep appointed by the President under article 239
of the Constitution;’.
————
Amendment of 3. In section 22 of the principal Act,—
section 22.
(a) in sub-section (1), in the long line, for the words “adult male worker”,
the words “adult worker” shall be substituted;
(b) in sub-section (2), the words “woman or” at both the places where DR. RAJIV MANI,
they occur, shall be omitted. Secretary to the Govt. of India.
Amendment of 4. In section 54 of the principal Act, for the words “nine hours”, the words
section 54.
“ten hours” shall be substituted.
Amendment of 5. In section 55 of the principal Act,—
section 55.
(a) in sub-section (1), for the words “five hours” at both the places where
they occur, the words “six hours” shall be substituted;
(b) sub-section (2) shall be omitted.
Amendment of 6. In section 56 of the principal Act,—
section 56.
(a) for the words “ten and a half hours”, the words “twelve hours” shall
be substituted;
(b) the proviso shall be omitted.
Amendment of 7. In section 65 of the principal Act, in sub-section (3), in clause (iv), for the
section 65. word “seventy-five”, the words “one hundred and forty-four” shall be substituted.
Amendment of 8. In section 66 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), in clause (b), for the
section 66.
proviso, the following provisos shall be substituted, namely:—
“Provided that women workers may, with their consent, be allowed to
work even between the hours of 7 P.M. and 6 A.M. in any factory in which
adequate safety and security measures or provisions for holidays, as may be
prescribed, are provided by the employer:
Provided further that where the State Government considers that the
employment of women in any particular hazardous or dangerous processes in
an establishment is dangerous for their health and safety due to the operation
carried out therein, the State Government may require the employer to provide
adequate safeguards as may be prescribed, prior to the employment of women
for such operation;”. UPLOADED BY THE MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI–110002
AND PUBLISHED BY THE CONTROLLER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI–110054.
MGIPMRND—346GI(S4)—19-11-2025.