The Odisha Assembly passed the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Bill, 2025, amending the original 1956 Act.
As per the changes, the maximum working hours for all categories have been extended to 10 hours per day from 9 hours. Additionally, the amendment also allows women to work on night shifts.
Introduced by Labour and Employment Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia, the bill seeks to maximise productivity, create more employment opportunities, especially for women in the workforce, enhance economic activity, and promote ease of doing business in the state.
The Bill removes restrictions on the engagement of women in night shifts, provided the conditions for their safety, dignity and welfare, or any other conditions prescribed by the state government, are met. This has been done with the aim of promoting gender inclusiveness and creating more employment opportunities for women in the organised sector, he said.
The minister also stated that the maximum daily work time will now be 10 hours, with an upper limit of 48 hours per week. The new provisions will apply to shops and commercial establishments that employ 20 or more people.
Singhkhuntia added that the working hours per day, length of uninterrupted period of work before mandatory interval for rest and maximum permissible overtime are proposed to be increased in line with the best practices in the present times and suggestions made by NITI Aayog and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The minister has also assured that the period of work of an employee will not exceed six hours without at least a half-hour break.
“Every establishment may remain open 24×7, subject to the condition that the employees shall be given overtime wages and one weekly off day. There will be no wage deduction for a weekly off, and this will also be applicable for people employed on a daily wage basis,” Singhkhuntia elaborated.
The 2025 Bill also proposed raising the overtime limit from 50 hours to 144 hours in any quarter of a financial year. This is believed to help commercial establishments address work pressure and enable employers to manage manpower more efficiently over longer periods. The longer overtime limit is also expected to help willing workers earn higher wages, at double the ordinary rate, as the minister said.
