The Gujarat Legislative Assembly has passed the Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The amendments include raising the threshold for the law’s applicability and revising provisions related to working hours and overtime. Labour and Employment Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya presented the Bill, citing the need to balance the interests of workers, traders, employers, and the wider public.
Under the revised provisions, the Act will now apply to shops and establishments employing 20 or more workers, up from the previous threshold of 10. Establishments with fewer than 20 workers are not required to register but must provide online intimation. This change aims to ease compliance for small traders and start-ups. Additionally, the daily working hours limit has been increased from nine to 10 hours, and the limit for continuous work without a break has been extended from 5 to 6 hours.
Moreover, the maximum overtime limit has been raised from 125 to 144 hours per quarter. Bavaliya emphasized that extending working hours would enhance customer convenience and boost economic activity. The Bill also includes provisions concerning women’s employment, allowing women workers to work between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. with proper safeguards in place.
The State Government has ensured provisions for women’s dignity, security, and safety at the workplace. Bavaliya highlighted that these amendments align with the policy of “Minimum Government and Maximum Governance” advocated by Narendra Modi and the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
