The City of Lights: Now Mumbaikars can shop late night or could even dine at restaurant

Mumbai, December 20: From today Mumbaikars can shop for groceries late at night or even enjoy a late night dinner at a local restaurant. The state government issued a notification to the Maharashtra Shops and Establishment Act, 2017, on Tuesday, allowing shops, including restaurants (that do not serve alcohol), cinema halls, salons, hyper malls and businesses such as banks, medical establishments and tax consultancies, to remain open 24x7 in the state. It does not include liquor shops and bars.

 

This means 35 lakh shops, including seven lakh in the state, are free to take a call on their preferred hours of business.

The amendment was initiated in accordance with the Centre’s Model Shops and Establishment Act, 2016, and was passed by both Houses of the state legislature in August. The notification was issued after the governor gave his nod to the legislation.

At present, shops are allowed to be open till 10pm, while commercial establishments have to shut by 9.30pm and restaurants by 12.30 am. The amendment and notification also paves the way for night shifts for women from 9.30pm to 7am with their consent and certain regulations.

“We expect women-driven businesses to get a boost from this move. At least five lakh new licences are estimated to be issued under the act in the near future,” labour minister Sambhaji Patil Nilangekar told HT.

The Act, however, has provisions to safeguard the interests of workers and ensure the safety of women. Operators will have to ensure their employees are working for more than 9 hours a day in three separate shifts. The establishment will have to ensure protection to women by ensuring their safety, dignity and protection from sexual harassment. The employer will also have to provide transportation for women working after 9.30pm. The employees will be entitled to pay for overtime duties, paid leaves, first aide, canteen facilities and a creche.

Violations leading to serious injury or death of employees may lead to imprisonment of six months or a penalty of up to Rs5 lakh to the employer. Violation of other duties towards workers may attract a fine up to Rs2 lakh.

The main idea behind the legislation, a senior official said, was to improve ease of doing business.