In a series of landmark decisions on Monday, September 29, 2025, the Odisha government ushered in significant changes to labor laws and education. The state cabinet approved a new policy that permits a 10-hour workday, provided the weekly total does not exceed 48 hours. Crucially, the reforms also grant women in private sector jobs the option to work night shifts, given their explicit written consent.
Chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, the Cabinet’s amendments to the Factories Act of 1948 are designed to stimulate industrial growth and generate more employment opportunities across the state. The official statement elaborated that workers can now be employed for up to six continuous hours without a break, and the total ‘spread-over’ period, including rest intervals, has been extended to 12 hours.
Furthermore, employees working beyond these revised standard hours will be compensated at twice their usual rate for overtime. The new regulations also raise the quarterly overtime limit from 115 hours to 144 hours. These progressive labor reforms are anticipated to attract new investments, help factories meet fluctuating demand, and significantly boost overall productivity.
Transforming Education with Model Schools
Beyond labor reforms, the Cabinet also made a pivotal move in education by greenlighting the establishment of model schools under the Godabarisha Adarsha Vidyalaya (GAV) scheme. These schools, planned for every gram panchayat, will prioritize inclusive and high-quality education.
The GAV scheme aligns with the core principles of the Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009, aiming to provide equitable access to learning and foster the comprehensive development of students. This initiative further resonates with the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, and the NIPUN Odisha scheme, with a particular emphasis on strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy skills to empower children both socially and academically.
The first phase of this ambitious educational project will see the construction of 2,200 model schools over three years, from 2025-26 to 2027-28, with an estimated investment of ₹12,000 crore.