House clears overhaul of shops & establishments law

The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Wednesday unanimously passed the Himachal Pradesh Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2025, marking a significant update to a law that has remained largely unchanged for over five decades. Industries and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, who introduced the Bill during the ongoing winter session, said the revisions were essential to bring the 1969 legislation in line with today’s economic landscape.

During the debate, BJP MLAs Randhir Sharma and Tarlok Jamwal pressed for mandatory registration of all commercial establishments, regardless of size, pointing out that the original Act required universal registration. The amendment, however, narrows compulsory registration to establishments employing 10 or more people. Chauhan argued that this change would reduce compliance burdens for small businesses without compromising oversight.

A major reform included in the Bill is the substantial increase in permissible overtime, raising the limit from 50 hours per quarter to 144 hours. Workers will continue to receive double the normal hourly wage for overtime. Chauhan said this update provides employees with better earning opportunities while preserving safeguards against exploitation.

He added that the revamped provisions aim to enhance the Act’s effectiveness, strengthen worker protection, and improve the ease of doing business in the state—striking what he described as a necessary balance between labour welfare and economic flexibility.

Bill to fast-track rule-making passed

The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Wednesday unanimously approved the Himachal Pradesh Recruitment and Conditions of Service of Government Employees (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Introduced by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the amendment seeks to speed up the formulation of service-related rules for government employees by eliminating the mandatory requirement of prior publication.

Under Section 10 of the 2024 parent Act, departments were required to publish draft rules before notification, a process the Chief Minister described as a source of “unavoidable delays”. The amendment removes this condition, allowing departments to notify rules directly and, according to Sukhu, significantly improve administrative efficiency and accelerate government recruitment procedures.

However, the Opposition raised concerns over the removal of prior publication. Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, along with BJP MLAs Randhir Sharma and Tarlok Jamwal, argued that previous publication is vital for inviting public objections and suggestions, ensuring transparency and accountability in rule-making.