Karnataka government released draft rules for the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code on January 27. The rules cap daily work hours at 10.5 and weekly hours at 48. For some factories or worker categories, the State Government may extend work up to 12 hours a day. This aligns with a June 2025 proposal to increase daily hours under the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act. Workers will get double wages for overtime, but overtime can extend up to 144 hours in a quarter, nearly three times the current limit of 50 hours. The Code merges 13 labour laws, including the Factories Act, 1948. Satyanand Mukund from All-India Trade Union Congress criticized the rise in the factory threshold from 10 to 20 workers. He said, "That will encourage outsourcing... These will essentially become sweatshops." He also expressed concern that the new Inspector-cum-Facilitator system may weaken enforcement. Labour lawyer Payal Gaikwad noted the draft does not mandate displacement allowances for inter-State migrant workers, unlike older laws. She said, "The draft rules reduce the inter-State migration to an administrative category." On safety, Gaikwad mentioned a shift to audit-based monitoring and periodic checks, which might lower state vigilance. While principal employers must provide workplace amenities, contractor failures are mainly handled through licences and fines rather than direct employer responsibility. Prashanth B.K., head of CCI Legal, saw positive aspects. He said, "Fines for contravention have increased substantially," and noted workers also have listed duties with penalties. He praised free medical checkups for workers over 40 and the new common licence system that prevents long delays in approvals. The draft rules bring major changes to work hours and safety norms, drawing mixed views from unions, experts, and legal professionals.