Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Legislative Assembly today passed the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introducing sweeping reforms aimed at promoting ease of doing business, boosting productivity, and increasing opportunities for women in the workforce.
The new legislation amends the decades-old Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1956, bringing its provisions in line with modern working conditions and recommendations from the NITI Aayog. Minister Labour & ESI Shri Ganeshram Singkhuntia presented the Bill.
A key highlight of the amendment is the move to exempt shops and commercial establishments employing up to 20 persons from the Act’s provisions, a measure designed to significantly reduce the regulatory compliance burden on smaller enterprises.
The working hour regulations have also seen major changes. The maximum daily working hours have been increased from nine to ten, while maintaining the weekly ceiling of 48 hours to ensure better workload distribution without adding overall work pressure. Furthermore, the maximum permissible overtime work limit within a three-month period has been substantially raised from 50 hours to 144 hours, offering employers greater operational flexibility and allowing willing employees to earn double the ordinary wage rate for the extra hours.
In a progressive step for gender inclusivity, the amendment removes the restriction on engaging women employees during night hours. Women are now permitted to work night shifts with their written consent, provided the employers adhere to prescribed safety, dignity, and welfare measures.
The new Act also simplifies rest interval requirements, allowing up to six hours of continuous work before a mandatory break of at least 30 minutes. The government believes these reforms will create a more investor-friendly ecosystem, generate more jobs, and improve administrative efficiency across the state. The Bill will now be sent to the Governor for assent to become law.