Shops Can Stay Open All Days For 3 More Years In TS

There's good news for shops, traders, business establishments and others in Telangana - they can now keep their businesses open 365 days a year, and not have to compulsorily stay closed on holidays and festivals.

This was stated by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao during a high-level review meeting on the issue.

Based on feedback from businessmen and traders, the TRS government had directed the officials to extend the policy for another three years, he said.

The Labour Department today issued a GO in this regard.

The policy, which was implemented for one year on a pilot basis and reportedly evoked good response, expired on Wednesday, and KCR asked the officials to extend it by three more years, though with some riders protecting the rights of labourers to work for only eight hours a day and 48 hours a week, and with a holiday every week.

Shops and business establishments may remain open from 9 am to 11 pm, and the details of laborers should be maintained in a register. The labourers should be given appointment letters, paid for overtime, have their salaries remitted to bank accounts, and extended EPF and ESI facilities. Transport should be provided to women labourers after 8:30 pm.

The Chief Minister opined that businessmen, traders and shop owners should not be forced to stop work on holidays and festivals, and instead be encouraged to do business as usual.