The Chhattisgarh government, led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, has introduced a major reform allowing shops, cafes, parlours, and restaurants to operate 24/7 across the state. This move is aimed at boosting business growth, creating more employment opportunities, and strengthening urban infrastructure.
As part of this policy, women employees are now permitted to work night shifts. Cabinet Minister Lakhan Lal Dewangan announced that businesses can now function round the clock, provided they follow worker rights and labour laws.
However, liquor shops will still close by 10 PM as per existing rules. Under the new policy, traders and shop owners have the flexibility to decide their business hours. However, worker protection remains a priority:
- All employees are entitled to a weekly off
- No worker can be forced to work more than 8 hours a day
- Shop owners must comply with labour welfare policies
These measures aim to balance economic expansion with worker rights, ensuring fair treatment for employees.
Simplified shop registration process
Businesses already registered under Employees' State Insurance (ESI) and Provident Fund (PF) will be automatically included.
However, they must obtain a Labour Identification Number (LIN) within six months.
In addition, shop and establishment registrations will now be handled by the Labour Department instead of municipal bodies. The registration fee has been revised to Rs 1,000 - Rs 10,000, depending on the number of employees, replacing the earlier Rs 100 - Rs 250 structure.
Previously, 24/7 business operations were only allowed in urban municipal areas. Now, the policy has been extended to benefit small traders employing at least 10 workers. Additionally, penalties for violations have increased, though businesses can opt for compounding offences to avoid lengthy legal proceedings.
Concerns over public transport and safety
While the new policy opens up job opportunities, especially for women working night shifts, concerns remain over public transport and safety. Currently, Raipur’s city buses stop operating by 7:30 PM, leaving women employees worried about commuting late at night.
A report by media house, where safety concerns:
"Travelling late at night in Chhattisgarh feels unsafe due to limited public transport and deserted streets. Will the government introduce strong safety measures, or will women be left to manage these risks on their own?"
With this new policy in place, the focus now shifts to ensuring safe and reliable transport options for women working late hours.
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