Puducherry Shops Allowed 24×7 Operations with Condition
The Government of Puducherry has published an Exemption Notification permitting Shops and Establishments in Puducherry to open 24×7 on all days and allowing women to work night shifts.
Applicability
- Applies to all Shops and Establishments in Puducherry employing 50 or more persons.
- Exempts them from restrictions under Section 10(1) and Section 16(1) of the Act.
- Permits operations 24×7, 365 days a year.
Employee Welfare Conditions
Employers must comply with the following conditions:
- Weekly Holiday – Each employee must be given one day off per week on a rotation basis, details recorded in Form IX and displayed prominently at the workplace.
- Display of Employee Details – Employers must publicly display holiday/leave records on a daily basis.
- Wage Payments – Wages, including overtime, must be credited directly to employees’ savings bank accounts.
- Overtime Controls – Work on holidays or beyond duty hours requires prior written indent of overtime. Employers violating this face action under the Act.
Women Employees – Night Shift Provisions (8:00 PM – 6:00 AM)
Special safeguards for women employees include:
- Written consent must be obtained before assigning night work.
- No employment of women in violation of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
- Adequate lighting, toilets, washrooms, and drinking water facilities must be provided.
- CCTV cameras must be installed for security.
- Full compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
Oversight
Monitoring and enforcement will be carried out by the Labour Commissioner, Puducherry. Non-compliance may attract penalties under the Shops and Establishments Act and related labour laws.