According to a various media reports, Shops, hotels, and malls can now remain open 24/7 in Maharashtra, according to a new law, which will not apply to bars, pubs, liquor shops and discotheques, said, Sambhaji Nilangekar-Patil, the State’s Labour Minister.
The government has notified the amended Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Service Condition) Act, 2017, which covers hotels, malls and restaurants. The Bill was passed by the Maharashtra legislature during its last session.
The new law excludes bars, pubs, wine shops and discos which have to open and close at a particular time. “The amendment now allows all shops to remain open in three shifts. It can remain open for 24 hours on all seven days. It is, however, mandatory to give one-day leave to their employees every week,” Nilangekar-Patil said. The amended law says smaller establishments would not require licences to run their operations but will have to register online with the authority concerned.
Adarsh Shetty, President, Indian Hotel and Restaurant, said that he wants this facility to be implemented at railway station as well. "Malls and other small eateries with less than 10 employees are going to benefit. Big restaurants might see a drop in customers."
It exempts small and medium-sized establishments, which have less than 10 workers, or employees working from home, or which are run as online businesses, from registering for a licence. This relaxation is expected to benefit about 22 lakh establishments, the minister said. |