Retail traders are blocking a landmark proposal by the Ministry of Labour & Employment, allowing shops and business establishments to remain open 24×7.
The policy was cleared by the Union Cabinet last year and Maharashtra became the first state to implement it. The Maharashtra Assembly recently passed the Shops and Establishment (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Bill, enabling shops to remain open 24 hours a day. The only requirement is that the establishment will have to take permission from the police, which is available online.
However, traders, who opposed the move in Maharashtra, are putting pressure on the Centre asking it to withdraw the policy. They are also trying to ensure that no other state passes such a Bill. The Union Cabinet cleared the Bill last year. Traders say that the policy is aimed at benefiting big corporate houses, malls and not retail traders, who do not have the resources to run shops 24×7. Sources said that the policy has the potential to completely change the working environment of India.
Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) president, B.C. Bhartia said that “the government cannot decide when we should do business”. “This is a concept of the West and it should not be emulated here,” he said, adding “what is the use of 24×7 shops?” The confederation represents over six crore retail traders across the country.
“Every city has a culture. It goes to sleep at night. If shops are open round the clock, when will people sleep and take rest? Moreover, keeping shops open will lead to more consumption of power, which in turn will generate more heat, which will affect our environment. So, what kind of tradition the government wants to start in India?” he asked.
The confederation had sought the response of its state units, most of which was negative. The state units were not interested in the government proposal of allowing shops and business establishments to remain open 24×7. CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said that staying open for 24X7 was a question of security too. “The shops will be vulnerable to crime at night. Moreover, since banks are not open at night, traders will not be able to deposit their daily cash in banks,” he added. Traders also feel that since they do not have enough manpower, it will not be feasible to stay open at night.
The then Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Bandaru Dattatreya, while announcing the decision, had termed the move as a “bold step” towards employment generation. “It will also give a boost to employment opportunities to women as they will be permitted to work at night shifts with adequate safety and security provisions. It will cover only shops and establishments employing 10 or more workers, except for manufacturing units,” he had said.
The Model Bill, according to the Ministry, is aimed at improving the working conditions of workers, creating more job opportunities for women and providing a favourable environment for doing business. The provision of operating 24X7 is expected to boost retail markets across the country and will give customers the flexibility and convenience to shop at any time of the day and night.