Chhattisgarh

• 24 Feb 2025

New Shops and Establishments Act in Chhattisgarh

Why in News? 

To strengthen the State’s economy, the Chhattisgarh government has implemented the New Shops and Establishments Act, allowing traders to keep their shops open seven days a week and 24 hours a day. 

 Key Points 

• Objective of the New Policy: 
  • The Chhattisgarh government introduced the new policy to boost trade and create employment opportunities. 
  • Although, the policy does not apply to liquor shops as clarified in the official statement. 
• Increased Flexibility for Traders: 
  • Previously, shops were required to remain closed one day a week. 
  • Under the new policy, traders can now operate as per their convenience without a mandatory weekly closure. 
• Worker Welfare Provisions: 
  • Despite the flexibility for traders, each worker must receive a mandatory weekly holiday. 
  • No employee can be required to work more than eight hours a day. 
  • Shop owners must comply with labour welfare schemes to protect workers' rights. 
• Simplified Registration Process: 
  • The new rules have streamlined shop registration. 
  • Existing registered shops must obtain a Labour Identification Number (LIN) within six months at no extra cost. 
  • Applications submitted after the deadline will incur a fee as per regulations. 

 Labour Identification Number (LIN) 

• LIN is a unique identification number assigned to establishments covered under various labour laws in India. 
• It enables centralized record-keeping and tracking of labour-related compliance. 
• LIN is linked to the Shram Suvidha Portal, a single online platform for managing labour law compliance. 
  • Employers can use LIN to file returns and manage registrations efficiently. 
• It facilitates compliance with various enforcement bodies, including EPFO (Employees’ Provident Fund Organization), ESIC (Employees’ State Insurance Corporation), and DGMS (Directorate General of Mines Safety). 
  • It streamlines regulatory procedures, reducing the complexity of compliance for businesses.