All states have their own Shop and Establishment Acts but adhere to the same general provisions. State Labour Departments regulate Shop Act. According to this shop act registration, licenses are issued by the respective states. Therefore they differ slightly from state to state. The shop and establishment registration Act regulates all shops and commercial establishments within the state.
As defined by the Shop and Establishment Act, a shop is where goods are sold or provided, whether retail or wholesale or where services are rendered. Commercial establishments generally employ people for office work, such as commercial, financial, trading, or insurance companies. Offices, godowns, storerooms, and warehouses are examples of commercial establishments. The term includes hotels, boarding houses, restaurants, cafes, theatres, and other public entertainment venues. However, factories and industries are not covered by this shop act registration. They are governed by the Factories Act 1948 and the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act 1951.
Why Was the Shop Act License Introduced?
To Impose Rules Based On Local Culture and empower states: It expressly allows states to frame their regulations and rules pertaining to the labour workforce engaged in such commercial establishments and make necessary exceptions
To Convert Unorganised Sector Into Organised: Government aims to convert the unorganised sector into an organised industry by bringing in rules and regulations
Mandates registration: Business registration is mandatory for entrepreneurs under the Shop and Establishment Act, which is the most significant push towards organising and monitoring this sector. With more and more small shops and commercial establishments registered, the government will be able to provide them with better assistance and resources
To Regulate Wages Of The Employees: Before, any shop or commercial establishment could fix any salary/wage for its employees, and there was no way to regulate it. Daily wagers and labourers received substantially less money, and business owners weren't held accountable. Shops and Establishment Certificate holders must now comply with government rules regarding wages and provide the care each employee deserves
Stop Child Labour: Among the most important features of the Shop and Establishment Act is making child labour illegal and punishable. Child labour was common before opening shop act license, which destroyed lives. Government regulations and rules regarding shop and establishment license have made this illegal
Healthy Working Conditions: Regardless of the condition of the business, the shop act registration requires business owners to maintain a healthy working environment and provide washrooms, baby care rooms, etc.