Shop and commercial establishment employees in Haryana may soon see changes in their daily work schedule after the Haryana Assembly passed a new amendment bill allowing 10 hours of work per day, while keeping the weekly limit capped at 48 hours.

The legislation, titled the Haryana Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2025, updates provisions of the 1958 Act to reduce compliance for businesses and increase operational flexibility.

What the New Haryana Labour Law Changes

Daily Working Hours Increased

• The bill raises daily working hours from 9 to 10 hours.

• The maximum weekly working limit remains 48 hours.

• Rest intervals are included within the daily working time.

According to the state government, the move aims to support economic activity, business flexibility, and employment generation.

Overtime Limit Significantly Expanded

New Overtime Provisions

• The quarterly overtime cap has been increased from 50 hours to 156 hours.

• The government says this change will help businesses manage peak demand, emergencies, and staff shortages.

However, critics argue that the expanded overtime allowance could lead to longer working days for employees.

Continuous Work Without Break Extended

The bill also proposes increasing the maximum continuous working period without rest from five hours to six hours, a change that has drawn concern from opposition leaders.

Government Says Bill Benefits Workers and Businesses

Labour Minister Anil Vij defended the bill, stating that it strikes a balance between worker protection and ease of doing business.

He said:

• The reforms will reduce compliance burden on small establishments

• Encourage job creation

• Support business growth without compromising worker rights

Vij added that similar rules already exist in states like Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha, where 10-hour workdays are permitted.

Opposition Raises Strong Objections

Congress Calls It ‘Modern-Day Slavery’

Congress MLA Aditya Surjewala strongly opposed the bill, questioning whether it promotes ease of doing business or legalises worker exploitation.

He pointed out that:

• A 10-hour workday plus increased overtime could mean up to 12 hours of work daily

• Such schedules leave workers with little personal or family time

An amendment proposed by Congress to retain the 9-hour daily limit was rejected by the Assembly through a voice vote.

Smaller Establishments Get Compliance Relief

Registration Rules Relaxed

Under the new law:

• Shops with fewer than 20 employees will no longer need mandatory registration.

• These businesses will only need to intimate authorities about their operations.

Previously, every shopkeeper was required to register, regardless of workforce size.

Minister Vij said this reform would:

• Remove fear of non-compliance

• Encourage small business growth

• Improve the ease of doing business in Haryana

Concerns Over Worker Coverage

Surjewala argued that the revised threshold could exclude over 80% of shops and establishments from the Act’s protections, potentially weakening labour safeguards.

The government, however, clarified that Haryana already follows a similar framework as several other Indian states.

Bill Passed During Winter Session

The labour amendment was one of eight bills passed on the final day of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha’s Winter Session.

Other key legislations included:

• Haryana Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2025

• Haryana Abadi Deh Ownership Rights Bill, 2025

• Haryana Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025

Jan Vishwas Bill Focuses on Decriminalisation

The Haryana Jan Vishwas Bill aims to improve trust-based governance by:

• Removing 164 minor criminal provisions

• Replacing penalties with civil and administrative actions

• Decriminalising minor and technical offences across 42 state laws

The government said the move would enhance ease of living and business confidence.

Conclusion

The passage of the Haryana Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2025 marks a significant shift in the state’s labour framework. While the government sees it as a step toward economic efficiency and business-friendly reforms, opposition leaders warn about its potential impact on work-life balance and employee welfare.

The real impact of the law will become clearer as it is implemented across Haryana’s retail and commercial sectors.