Starting today, Chandigarh allows shops to operate 24×7

Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh, who is also the Secretary-cum-Labour Commissioner told The Indian Express that this notification won’t apply to liquor vends, bars and the current bar/pub timings will remain the same as they are regulated by excise laws.

“This notification will not extend to the timings of bars and liquor vends. It will cover all other shops, including eating joints, clothing stores, grocery stores and others,” the deputy commissioner said.

The Chandigarh administration said that “for the benefit of traders and shopkeepers in the Union Territory (UT), it has allowed all shops and commercial establishments in the UT to remain open 24 hours for 365 days”.

A statement issued by the administration said, “This business reform initiative has been taken by the UT administration to ensure that the traders and shopkeepers wanting to operate beyond the existing allowed timings and days need not have to take specific permission every time from the labour department, so that it paves the way for ‘Ease of Doing Business’, higher productivity and growth.”

However, Chandigarh traders were a bit sceptical and stated that this will raise safety and security concerns. They will hold a meeting to discuss the issue.

“We don’t think this 24/7 concept was required in Chandigarh because it will raise security concerns as well. This city still doesn’t have that night culture and people go back home around 11-12 at night. No one wants to shop after that,” Neeraj Sindhi, proprietor of Sindhi Sweets and president of Chandigarh Business Council, said, adding that “this will also lead to rise in crime. Just installing CCTV cameras won’t stop the crime”.

“The benefit is not available to shops and commercial establishments not registered with the labour department,” Vinay Pratap Singh said, adding that the UT administration is conscious of the welfare and “Ease of Doing Business” needs of all shopkeepers and traders of Chandigarh and so, this benefit of round-the-clock operation throughout the year has been granted.

Vinod Vashisht, City Forum of Residents’ Welfare Association, said, “Allowing opening of shops 24×7 is a welcome step for the metro city of Chandigarh where night life too is picking up. This would help in increasing employment in retail sales, security, transportation and logistics sectors. It will also make the city a more happening place.”

The deputy commissioner urged all shopkeepers and traders to get themselves registered with the labour department under Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, through labour.chd.gov.in (online portal).

He also informed that the registration certificate is issued by the labour department on payment of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 (according to category of registration certificate) on online portal.

Conditions for opening of shops

Every employee working in the said shops and establishments shall be given one day rest in a week without making any deduction from his/her wages and the list of the timetable of such holidays for a month shall be placed on the notice board in advance.

Every employee shall be given a rest period of at least half an hour after 5 hours of continuous work. No employee shall be required to work for more than 9 hours in day or 48 hours in a week.

Security after 10 pm

If any shop or establishment remains open after 10 pm on any day, adequate safety and security arrangements shall be ensured to all employees and visitors by the management. The woman employees shall be provided separate locker, security and rest rooms at the workplace, as per the order.

Woman employees not to work after 8 pm

The woman employees will not be allowed to work after 8 pm and in case they are allowed to after 8 pm, their written consent in this regard shall be taken and adequate safety and security arrangements for them shall be provided during working hours.

It shall also be ensured that such woman employees reach their home safely after their work is over. The management/employer has to ensure certain conditions for woman employees including adequate safety, proper transportation, annual self-defence workshops and implementation of other guidelines and rules as specified by the labour department from time to time, the order said.

An employee shall be given national and festival holidays with wages. The wages, including overtime wages, of the employees shall be credited to their saving bank accounts.

The notification also provides that the CCTV cameras with minimum 15 days recording back-up shall be installed on the shop/commercial establishment premises for safety purpose. An emergency alarm provision to counter any emergent situation should be made. The exemption shall be cancelled after giving due opportunity of being heard by the competent authority in case of violation of any of the above terms and conditions.

“The inspectorate staff of the labour department, UT, Chandigarh, is empowered to inspect and verify the record of terms and conditions imposed under the notification,” it says.