On June 29 2016, the Central Government introduced 'The Model Shops and Establishment (Regulation of Employment and Condition of Services) Act 2016 (hereinafter referred to as The Model Bill), which has been one of the key asks of the Retailers Association of India (RAI) for the overall benefit and growth of the Indian retail sector.  

The Model Bill is a progressive move by the Government that would give a substantial boost to employment and will also benefit the consumers in terms of increased convenience and accessibility. Subsequently, RAI started actively engaging with various State Governments for the adoption of the Model Bill. The Government of Maharashtra amended the Maharashtra Shops & Establishments Act 1948 in line with the Model Bill. 

The new bill - Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) 2017 was published in the Maharashtra Government Gazette on 7th September 2017. After receiving the assent of the Governor of Maharashtra this year, pertinent notifications were issued on 19th December 2017.

As per the "Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) 2017", all shops and establishments in the state can remain open 24x7, except some class of retail establishments, which included cinema halls and shops and establishments that serve liquor. 

However, this created ambiguity and confusion in the retail community on whether they were included in the separate class. The issue was brought to RAI’s attention by some members, who shared that the Act was not being properly executed by the law enforcement authorities, leading to altercations during business hours.

RAI, on behalf of all its members, represented the concern to the State Government of Maharashtra seeking clarity on the issue as per the revised Act. As a response to this, the State Government of Maharashtra issued a clarification that all the shops and establishments can remain open 24x7, subject to compliance with appropriate conditions. Cinema halls and establishments serving liquor have been separately notified by the State Government.

Government of Maharashtra's clarification regarding the 24x7 store opening permission in the State

RAI urges all retailers to take printouts of the clarification and prominently display it in their shops to avoid hassles.

To explore business opportunities, link with me by clicking on the 'Invite' button on my eBiz Card.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, official policy or position of GlobalLinker.