Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act 2017: Keeping the lights on

Hiring from the beneficial sectors is also likely to rise over time

Soon after the Union Cabinet cleared the model Shops and Establishments Act in June 2016, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley noted in a media briefing: “The implementation of the law will depend on the states. The Bill will now be sent to the states, which have the option of adopting it or making modifications. It is a suggestive law for the states.”  The model law proposed measures and regulations for keeping shopping establishments open round the clock all through the year.

Having faced stiff opposition from trade unions to earlier proposed labour reforms, this was a politically prudent move to make.

In September