In a strategic move to bolster semiconductor manufacturing, the Gujarat government has authorized Micron Technology's Sanand facility to operate 12-hour shifts while maintaining strict labor safeguards.

  • Micron Semiconductor Sanand facility approved for 12-hour shifts.
  • Total weekly working hours for employees remain capped at 48 hours.
  • Mandatory written consent required from employees for long shifts.
  • Decision made under the OSH Code, 2020 provisions.

The Gujarat government has taken a significant step toward strengthening the state's semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem by granting permission to Micron Semiconductor Technology India Private Limited's Sanand facility to operate 12-hour shifts. This marks the first time an industrial entity in the state has received such an exemption while strictly adhering to statutory labor limits.

This approval is granted under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020, which came into effect nationwide on November 21, 2025. The government has ensured that while the daily shift duration increases, the total weekly working hours for any adult worker shall not exceed 48 hours. Any remaining days in the week will be treated as paid leave, ensuring that productivity gains do not come at the cost of worker exhaustion.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that semiconductor manufacturing is fundamentally different from traditional factory operations. The process requires highly controlled, ultra-clean environments. Frequent shift changes necessitate more entries and exits from these cleanrooms, increasing the risk of particle contamination and disrupting the continuous, automated production cycles essential for high-precision chip assembly.

Longer shifts reduce the frequency of shift handovers, minimizing cleanroom breaches and optimizing the utilization of multi-billion-dollar automated equipment.

Minister of Labour, Skill Development and Employment, Kunvarji Bavaliya, emphasized that the move is designed to promote 'Ease of Doing Business' and 'Ease of Compliance.' He stated that the government exercised this provision in the larger public interest to drive economic growth and employment generation within Gujarat.

Historical Context & Global Scale

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat has positioned itself as India's premier destination for semiconductor investments. The Micron project in Sanand is a cornerstone of this ambition, featuring over 500,000 square feet of cleanroom space. The facility is slated to test tens of millions of chips in 2026, with capacity scaling to hundreds of millions annually by 2027.

Did You Know?: Semiconductor cleanrooms must be thousands of times cleaner than a hospital operating room to prevent microchip failure.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the 12-hour shift mandatory for all workers?
No, only workers who voluntarily provide written consent are eligible to participate in the 12-hour shift arrangement.

2. How does the 48-hour weekly limit work with 12-hour shifts?
If a worker completes four 12-hour shifts (totaling 48 hours), the remaining days of the week must be provided as paid leave.