Chandigarh, Dec 22 (PTI) The Haryana Assembly on Monday passed a Bill increasing daily working hours for employees of shops and private commercial establishments from nine to ten hours, while retaining the weekly cap of 48 hours.
The Haryana Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2025 seeks to amend the 1958 Act. Labour Minister Anil Vij said the changes are meant to reduce compliance burden on smaller establishments, promote economic growth and provide flexibility during peak demand, while safeguarding workers’ interests.
The Bill, however, drew sharp criticism from the Congress. Party MLA Aditya Surjewala questioned whether the move was ease of doing business or “legalising modern-day slavery”. He flagged provisions that raise permissible overtime from 50 hours to 156 hours per quarter and extend continuous work without rest from five to six hours.
“Take 10 hours of daily work with two hours of overtime. If a person works 12 hours a day for six days a week, what time is left for family?” Surjewala asked. His amendment to retain the nine-hour workday was rejected by voice vote.
Vij defended the Bill, saying the 10-hour workday is already in place in states such as Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. He also said establishments with fewer than 20 workers will no longer require registration and will only need to intimate authorities, a move aimed at encouraging job creation and easing regulatory pressure on small traders.
Surjewala countered that over 80 per cent of shops employ fewer than 20 workers and would effectively fall outside the Act’s provisions.
The Bill was among eight legislations passed on the concluding day of the Winter Session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha.
Category: Breaking News
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