The Odisha Legislative Assembly has approved the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Amendment Bill, 2025, which introduces key changes to labour regulations in the retail and commercial sectors.

The bill increases the maximum daily working hours from 9 to 10, while maintaining the weekly cap at 48 hours, aiming to better distribute workloads without increasing overall strain. Additionally, overtime limits over three months have been raised from 50 to 144 hours, with overtime pay set at double the regular wage rate.

Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia defended the amendments, stating that they will enable establishments to handle production demands more efficiently and allow employers to manage skilled manpower over extended periods. “Willing workers can opt for overtime to e

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