Shop Act

The  Shops And Establishments Act of 1988 prescribes the applicable labour laws for those who wish to run a business in the state. The act has regulated working hours, wages and working conditions in all charitable trusts, educational institutions, printing establishments, as well as commercial establishments. Before we move further, let’s understand the scope of the terms ‘Shop’ and ‘Commercial Establishments’. The term ‘Shop’ means any premise where any business or operation is carried on or where facilities are offered to customers. Including offices, stores, godowns, or warehouses, whether at the same location or elsewhere, utilised in connection with such company or trade. On the other hand the term “Commercial establishment” means any premises wherein any business, trade, or profession is carried out for profit. It also includes journalistic or printing establishments and premises in which the businesses of banking, insurance, stocks and shares, brokerage, or produce exchange are carried on; or which is used as a restaurant, boarding, or eating house, theatre, cinema, or another place of public entertainment or any other place which the government may declare, by notification in the official gazette, to be a commercial establishment as per this Act.