Cabinet Clears Law Allowing Cinemas, Shops to Stay Open 24X7

The law will ensure increased employment, as establishments working longer hours will need more manpower.
Akriti Paracer
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A store that is open 24 hours a day. (Photo: iStock)
A store that is open 24 hours  a day. (Photo: iStock)
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Emphasising on the adage that the consumer is king, people will soon be able to shop, eat and watch movies at their convenience even at the most odd hours as shops, restaurants and cinemas will be permitted to remain open 24X7.

The law allowing this was passed by the Cabinet on Wednesday.

The Model Shops and Establishment (Regulation of Employment and Condition of Services) Bill 2016 to give such establishments the flexibility to operate round the clock.

The law covers establishments employing ten or more workers except manufacturing units and will provide them the freedom to operate 365 days.

We will circulate the Model Shops and Establishments Bill. Since this is a state issue, it will be sent to the states which can be adopted by the state governments. The motive was to increase employment opportunities in the country.
Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister

It also demands that women to be employed on night shifts with adequate security and calls for better working conditions for employees such as drinking water, canteen, first aid, lavatory and creche services.

The interest of the workers in terms of mandatory weekly holiday, number of working hours per day, of course, have to be protected.
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The model law can be adopted by states with a provision to modify it as per their requirement.

It is aimed at generating additional employment as shops and establishments will have freedom to operate for longer hours and employ more manpower.

Retail trade is the largest service sector employer in the country. Many more jobs can be created in this sector, provided the regulations are simplified. These shops should be given the choice to remain open on all seven days of the week on voluntary basis, Arun Jaitley had said in his budget speech this year.

(With inputs from PTI, IANS.)

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Published: 29 Jun 2016,05:01 PM IST

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