Odisha to promulgate Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025
Bhubaneswar, Oct 11 (UNI): The Odisha Cabinet has approved the promulgation of the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, aimed at improving the ease of doing business in the state.
During its 27th meeting on September 29, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1956.
The amendments are designed to reduce the compliance burden on small businesses, stimulate economic activity by providing impetus to entrepreneurs, create employment opportunities, and enhance the ease of doing business in Odisha.
State Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja said the government felt it necessary to implement the proposed amendments in the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1956, by way of an Ordinance.
He said that since the State Legislative Assembly is not in session, the circumstances exist that render it necessary for the promulgation of an Ordinance under Article 213 of the Constitution of India.
The proposed Ordinance, Ahuja said after its promulgation, shall be replaced by an Act of the State Legislature in due course.
The proposed Ordinance shall cover the amendments in the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1956:-
– Provisions of the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1956 shall be applicable to such Shops and Commercial Establishments in the State which engage 20 or more employees.
However, all the Shops and Commercial Establishments shall be required to display the Odia signboard irrespective of the number of employees employed by them;
It will increase in daily working hours from 9 hours to 10 hours. However, weekly working hours are limited to 48 hours (forty-eight hours per week), as already existing in the Act;
The work shift of an employee in an establishment shall not exceed six continuous hours without an interval for rest of at least half an hour;
Increase in overtime work limit from 50 hours to 144 hours during a period of three months.
