The Government of Maharashtra has introduced wide-ranging changes to the Maharashtra Factories Rules, 1963 through its Second Amendment Rules, 2025, aimed at digitization, enhanced worker safety—particularly for women—and updated compliance norms.
This notification, issued by the Industries, Energy, Labour and Mining Department , brings in significant procedural reforms and safety measures under the provisions of the Factories Act, 1948.
🔑 Key Highlights of the Maharashtra Factories (Second Amendment) Rules, 2025:
✅ 1. Digitization of Procedures:
- Applications, licensing, and renewals must now be made electronically using prescribed forms (Form 1, 4, etc.).
- Duplicate and triplicate submissions have been eliminated, simplifying document handling.
- Rule 14 now mandates that notice of occupation be submitted online, with licenses issued digitally.
🛡️ 2. Enhanced Safety for Women Workers (Rules 102-B & 114-A):
Women working in factories between 7:00 PM and 6:00 AM must be provided:
- Free transportation to and from home.
- Well-lit workplaces, including restrooms and passageways.
- Minimum two women on duty at any time at a workplace.
- Regular grievance meetings every 8 weeks.
- Written consent retained for three years.
- CCTV surveillance with 45-day footage retention.
For dangerous operations, occupiers must ensure:
- Protective gear such as respirators and overcoats.
- Hazard information provided in Marathi or a language understood by women workers.
- No pregnant/lactating women allowed near carcinogenic or teratogenic substances.
- Special training on hazards and safety measures.
🧑⚕️ 3. Mandatory Annual Medical Examinations:
- All workers aged 45 years and above (except those under certain rules) must undergo a free annual medical check-up.
- Examinations must be conducted by qualified professionals or empaneled institutes.
- Results to be submitted electronically in Form 7-A within 15 days.
🔄 4. Revised Licensing Fees (Rule 5):
- Schedule A revised for factories (based on number of workers and horsepower).
- Schedule B updated for power generating stations (based on capacity in MW and workforce size).
- The fee structure is now aligned with 2026 values, replacing the older 2013 references.
🔄 5. Structural & Legal Revisions:
- Certificate of Stability (Form 1A) must be submitted for non-hazardous factories within 12 months of license issuance.
- Several redundant clauses and rules such as Rule 11 and Rule 102-C have been deleted to streamline compliance.
- Amendments now use gender-inclusive and health-specific language, replacing generic references to “women” with “pregnant women, lactating mothers” across multiple Schedules (e.g., II, III, IV, etc.).
🚨 6. Emergency Preparedness (New Rule 73-ZD):
- All factories must conduct mock drills for probable emergencies at least once every six months.
- Scenario and drill date must be reported to the Factory Inspector within 15 days.
⚖️ A Progressive Step for Industrial Governance
These amendments represent a robust modernization of Maharashtra’s factory governance, emphasizing:
- Worker health and safety
- Digital efficiency
- Empowerment and protection of women
- Compliance clarity and simplification
With these new regulations, Maharashtra aims to foster safer, smarter, and more inclusive workplaces aligned with contemporary industrial and social standards.