On February 18, 2026, the Gujarat Assembly passed a bill that extends the daily working hours and allows women to work night shifts in shops and commercial establishments.
The Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was introduced by the BJP and was passed unanimously. The Congress opposition, led by MLA Shailesh Parmar, also extended its support to the amendment after assurances from Labour, Skill Development and Employment Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya regarding proper safeguards and implementation.
As per the bill, any consenting woman is now eligible to work between 9 PM and 6 AM at any shop or commercial establishment. This is, of course, only if the employer ensures adequate protection of dignity and safety, protection from sexual harassment, and so on. Facilities such as restrooms, night creches, and separate toilets should also be available to female employees during this time.
“A provision empowers the state government to prohibit or regulate the employment of women workers between 9 pm and 6 am in specified shops or establishments in certain areas, through a notification in the Official Gazette,” explained Bavaliya, adding that transportation from the workplace to the residence is also a mandatory requirement for employers regarding women working the night shift.
Additionally, the bill has increased the daily working limit to 10 hours, including breaks, from 9 hours. The quarterly overtime limit has also been extended to 144 hours. Previously, employees could work a maximum of 125 hours of overtime per quarter.
These changes, as per Bavaliya, hope to balance ease of doing business and protection of workers’ rights. He also assured strict enforcement of the changes and conditions with no exceptions.
