The Odisha Assembly on Wednesday passed a Bill paving the way for women to work night shifts and raising the daily working hours from nine to 10.

The Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was cleared amid a walkout by the opposition BJD and the Congress.

Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia, while moving the Bill, said it

introduces major reforms for small businesses and workplaces.

He said establishments employing up to 20 people would be exempted from provisions of the 1956 Act, reducing the regulatory burden on smaller enterprises.

Clarifying the changes in working hours, Singhkhuntia said the daily limit would be increased from nine to 10 hours while retaining the 48-hour weekly cap.

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