Delhi govt plans to protect shop workers

The Delhi government has come out with recommendations to ensure that employees of shops in the capital are not given a raw deal by the owners, who can now keep their outlets open till 11 pm from September 15.

As per the recommendations, for which the government has invited comments from trade unions and associations before the order is notified, if a shift system is put in place, the owner will have to ensure that a worker does not work in the night only.

The overlapping of shifts will not be permitted, and if a shop remains open on all days of the week, each employee will be given an off day in rotation, according to the recommendations.

No woman employee will be "allowed or required" to work in shops during the night.

Employees will be entitled to a day's compensatory leave, in addition to overtime charges at double the normal rate if they have to work on a national holiday.

Several employees' associations had criticised the government's move to allow shops to remain open till 11 pm, saying the owners might exploit the workers and make them work longer hours.

The government also assured owners of small shops that it was not mandatory to keep the establishments open till 11 pm throughout the week.

Several small shopowners had expressed fears that they would have to follow the new timings even if they did not have the manpower to do so.