What are the health risks associated with India's new labour codes and compressed workweeks?

Compressed workweeks can disrupt circadian rhythms, affect metabolism, increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and negatively impact mental and reproductive health due to stress and sleep deprivation.

How do longer work hours affect metabolism and metabolic health in India?

Prolonged sitting and irregular meal timings associated with longer workdays can impair glucose uptake by muscles and lead to insulin resistance, increasing the risk of metabolic disorders and weight gain.

What reproductive health implications arise from India's compressed work schedule?

Sleep deprivation and circadian rhythm disruption can alter hormonal balance, potentially exacerbating conditions like PCOS and endometriosis, and can also adversely affect fertility levels in both men and women.

Home / Health / India's 4-Day Workweek: Health Risks Emerge

India's 4-Day Workweek: Health Risks Emerge

1 Feb

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Summary

New labour codes allow longer work days in India.
Extended hours disrupt circadian rhythms and metabolism.
Compressed schedules may harm mental and reproductive health.

India's 4-Day Workweek: Health Risks Emerge

India's introduction of new labour codes in November 2025 allows employers to implement longer workdays, such as a four-day week with 10-12 hour shifts. While offering potential flexibility, this shift carries significant health implications. Extended working hours can disrupt the body's circadian rhythm, leading to issues with hormone secretion, metabolism, and increased risks of glucose dysregulation. This disruption is already recognized by the World Health Organization as a probable health risk.

The compressed work schedule can also lead to prolonged sitting and improper meal timings, negatively impacting metabolic health and increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Stress associated with longer hours can indirectly affect thyroid and adrenal functions, contributing to fatigue and reduced stress capacity.