The Chhattisgarh Shops and Establishments Amendment Act 2025 introduces important changes affecting shops, commercial establishments and employers operating across the State of Chhattisgarh. The amendment revises the applicability threshold of the principal legislation and modifies provisions relating to women working during night hours, daily working hours, rest intervals, spread-over and quarterly overtime limits.
The amendment is officially titled the Chhattisgarh Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Act, 2025 and has been published as Chhattisgarh Act No. 11 of 2026 in the Official Gazette dated 8 July 2026. Since the legislation provides that it will come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, the amendments are effective from 8 July 2026.
The changes are expected to provide greater operational flexibility to establishments. At the same time, employers will need to review their working-hour policies, overtime controls, shift arrangements and statutory documentation to ensure continued compliance.
Key Changes at a Glance
| Particulars | Earlier Provision | Amended Provision | Practical Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicability threshold | Establishments employing 10 or more workers | Establishments employing 20 or more workers | The statutory applicability threshold has increased from 10 to 20 workers |
| Women working at night | Restrictions applied to women working during specified night hours | Women may be permitted to work between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., subject to conditions notified by the State Government | Employers may deploy women in night shifts only after complying with prescribed safeguards |
| Maximum daily working hours | 9 hours per day | 10 hours per day | Establishments may schedule up to 10 working hours in a day, subject to other applicable conditions |
| Continuous work before rest interval | Rest interval linked to 5 hours of work | Limit revised to 6 hours | Shift schedules and break policies may need revision |
| Spread-over | 10½ hours | 12 hours | Total duration from commencement to completion of work, including rest intervals, may extend up to 12 hours |
| Special spread-over provision | Separate wording existed for intermittent or urgent work | Provision omitted | The general 12-hour spread-over limit will apply as provided under the amended section |
| Quarterly overtime limit | 125 hours | 144 hours | Employers may engage workers for additional overtime, subject to overtime wages and compliance requirements |
| Proviso under Section 8(1) | Existing proviso formed part of the section | Proviso omitted | Employers should review the effect of the deletion while revising working-hour arrangements |
Gazette Copy :- Chhattisgarh Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Act, 2025