Gujarat Assembly Passes Shops Law Overhaul, Clearing 10-Hour Shifts and Night Work for Women

Overview

• The Gujarat Legislative Assembly approved the 2026 amendment unanimously after assurances from Labour Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya on safeguards and strict implementation.
• Daily work limits rise to 10 hours within a 48-hour week, and the maximum continuous stretch without a break increases to six hours.
• The overtime ceiling increases to 144 hours per quarter, with overtime payable at twice the ordinary wage rate.
• Women may work between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. with consent if employers ensure safety, anti-harassment protections, restrooms, night crèches, separate toilets, and transport, and the state may restrict such work by notification.
• The Act will now apply to shops and establishments with 20 or more workers, while smaller units avoid registration but must file online intimation.