New Delhi : The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the Model Shop and Establishment Regulations Bill for pushing it in the monsoon session of Parliament for allowing shops with more than 10 employees to remain open round-the-clock with no working hours alike the malls.
Announcing this, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told a Press conference here that it is a suggestive legislation that will be sent to the states for adoption as it would help in the employment generation.
Even while appreciating the government’s spirit in bringing shops at par with the malls, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said the decision is bound to pose several threats to the trading community.
It suggested that a pilot project be undertaken in any one bigger market of any city for its impact assessment to understand the quantum of increase in footfall in markets if shops are open in the night vis-a-vis the establishment expenses and consequences in terms of law and order, environment, health, social and family issues.
CAIT President B.C. Bhartia said perhaps the Supreme Court verdict on not allowing any activity beyond 11 pm in the night had escaped attention of those drafting the Bill.
The Bill, finalised after detailed discussions with the public, employees’ organisations and state governments through tripartite consultative process, also envisages ending the ‘protective discrimination’ against women by allowing them also to work till late in night but with conditions like security and transport to go home.
It provides freedom to establishments employing 10 or more workers, except manufacturing units, to have freedom to operate 365 days in a year with relaxed norms for opening and closing.
