Shops & Establishment

Shops & Establishment Act: State-Wise Differences You Must Know

2026-03-22 · 7 min

Each state has its own Shops & Establishment Act, with different rules on working hours, weekly offs and leave. Multi-state employers should harmonise policy to the strictest state.

Working hours

Most states cap daily hours at 9 and weekly at 48, with overtime at double the wage rate. Karnataka and Maharashtra permit specific exemptions.

Leave entitlements

Earned leave ranges from 12 to 21 days; sick and casual leave allocations also vary.

Registration validity

Validity is lifetime in some states (e.g. Karnataka after 2017 amendment) and 1–5 years in others.

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