Can Your Employer Force Unpaid Overtime?
Short answer: not legally, though enforcement varies a lot by sector.
Under the Factories Act and various state Shops & Establishments Acts, work beyond a standard threshold (commonly 9 hours/day or 48 hours/week) generally has to be compensated at an overtime rate — usually double the ordinary wage.
"Unpaid mandatory overtime" as a routine practice is a real, actionable violation you can raise with your state Labour Department — even informally, a written complaint often prompts a quick correction since employers want to avoid an inspection.
If you're in a sector without clear coverage (some white-collar/IT roles under specific state exemptions), the legal picture is murkier — but excessive, uncompensated hours are still worth raising internally or with HR first.
Overtime rules for factory workers
Cover most other workplaces, with rules varying by state
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This FAQ covers the specifics — our complete guide covers everything about police stops, arrest and detention in one place.
Open the Full GuideAdhikar is an independent citizen-awareness platform, not a Government of India website and doesn't take a position on the NEET protests themselves — this is general information about rights every student already has, not legal advice for a specific situation. For that, contact a lawyer or the free legal aid helpline (15100).