Punjab delegates powers on women’s working hours under Factories Act to labour commissioner

The Punjab Government, through a notification dated 25 July 2025, has delegated its powers under Section 66(1)(b) of the Factories Act, 1948 which governs the regulation of women’s working hours to the Labour Commissioner-cum-Director of Factories, Punjab.

This move, aimed at expediting decisions and enhancing administrative efficiency, enables quicker approvals and streamlined handling of matters related to women’s working hour permissions. By shifting authority from the state level to a specialised labour administration, the government seeks to make labour governance more responsive to workplace needs while maintaining compliance with statutory safeguards.