Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly has passed the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Bill, 2025, which amends the 1956 Act, increasing the maximum daily working hours in all types of shops and commercial establishments from 9 to 10 hours and permitting women employees to work night shifts.

The Bill, which was introduced on Tuesday by Labour and Employment minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia, with an aim to increase overall productivity, create more employment opportunities especially for women workforce and promote ease of doing business in the state. ADVERTISEMENT

The amended provisions will be applicable to shops and commercial establishments which have employed 20 or more people and also raises the quarterly overtime ceiling from 50 hours to 144 hours in a financial year, the mini

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