Chandigarh, December 22- Haryana Labour Minister, Sh. Anil Vij said that today the Haryana Vidhan Sabha has passed the Haryana Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to reduce the compliance burden on smaller establishments through reforms for promoting economic growth while ensuring continued protection for workers. He said that this Bill is beneficial for both workers and shopkeepers, and it is in the interest of workers as well as traders.
Sh. Vij presented the Haryana Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha today, and the Bill was passed.
He said that increase in threshold limit from zero employees to 20 or more employees in any establishment for registration and other regulatory provisions of the Bill in order to reduce compliance burden for smaller businesses, encourage job creation and eliminate the fear of non-compliance. Establishments with less than 20 workers will no longer need a registration certificate under the bill but they will only need to provide an intimation of their business. Earlier, every shopkeeper was required to register. He pointed out that even today, in states like Karnataka, shopkeepers are required to register even if they do not have a single worker.
He said that before finalizing this Bill, he studied data from states across India. In Haryana, registration has been mandated for establishments with 20 or more workers. Similarly, in Maharashtra, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha, registration is compulsory for establishments having 20 or more workers. Likewise, the daily working hours are 10 hours in Haryana, as well as in Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. Regarding overtime, the maximum of 156 hours is permitted in Haryana,(which highest in the country) whereas it is 144 hours in Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha; 125 hours in Uttar Pradesh; 72 hours in Tamil Nadu; and 50 hours in Karnataka. Similarly, the interval of rest is six hours in Haryana, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.
Labour Minister said that increase in the daily hours of work from the existing nine hours to ten hours, inclusive of rest intervals, subject to a maximum of forty-eight hours in any week. This measure aims to create greater economic activity, enhance employment opportunities and give establishments the flexibility to handle emergencies, peak demand or staff shortages without disruption.
Similarly, Sh. Vij said that increase in the overtime period within quarter from 50 hours to 156 hours so that establishments will be allowed to engage workers in overtime for an increased period per quarter to address exceptional work pressure. This change will increase workers’ earning potential and formalize overtime practices, ensuring that all additional hours are properly recorded and compensated, which will help in preventing exploitation of workers. However the overtime working will not be mandatory for the workers.
Sh. Vij said that increase in formalization in job market by making the appointment letters & identity card mandatory. This change will create verified employment records, skill mapping, better welfare delivery, increased transparency, higher retention and ease of living. Decriminalization and instead of punishment of imprisonment as contravention of Bill, only fine is being kept which has been increased up to twenty five thousand rupees, so that the enforcement of the Bill is not diluted. This will ensure that a harmonious balance is maintained between the rights of the workers and as well of Establishments. He added that anyone who violates the law will be punished, and repeated violations will also be considered seriously in determining penalties.
He said that the original Haryana Shops and Commercial Establishments Act was enacted in 1958, and since then, many circumstances have changed. Through this Bill, cumbersome provisions have been removed. He stated that only after conducting a thorough study did he obtain approval for this Bill from the Chief Minister as well, so that the provisions are brought in line with those of other states. He also said that provisions have been made for online registration of shops within one day under a system of self-certified documents.
