Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Rules, 2025

The Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) (Amendment) Rules, 2025, represent a recent update intended to ease compliance for smaller businesses while maintaining protections for employees in the state. The amendment was promulgated through an official notification and draft rules in October and November 2025, with effect from 1 October 2025.​

Key Objectives and Applicability

• The rules aim to reduce compliance burdens for small businesses, foster greater ease of doing business, and increase operational flexibility for shops and establishments across Maharashtra.​
• The Amendment Rules, 2025, now require establishments employing 20 or more workers (increased from the previous threshold of 10) to register under the Act. Establishments with fewer than 20 workers only need to submit intimation, reducing their paperwork and compliance costs.​

Working Hours and Spread-Over

• The maximum spread-over of working hours in a day has been increased from 10.5 hours to 12 hours, accommodating more flexible daily scheduling but still capping total work periods.​
• The interval for continuous work without rest has been raised from 5 hours to 6 hours; employees must then have a minimum 30-minute rest interval.​

Overtime and Night Shifts

• The quarterly overtime limit has been increased from 125 hours to 144 hours, allowing greater overtime engagement with appropriate compensation.​
• Provisions for women working night shifts have been strengthened by emphasizing consent, safety, and security. Following conditions should be met: ​
  • Adequate transportation facilities shall be provided to women worker to pick-up from her residence and drop to establishment and vice-versa
  • The workplace including passage towards conveniences and facilities concerning toilets, washrooms, drinking water, changing room, entry and exit of women worker should be well-lit
  • Minimum two women workers shall be present on duty at any work place
  • The women worker, who work in night shifts and regular shifts, shall have a meeting through their representatives with the manager, once in eight weeks as grievance day and the manager shall try to comply with grievances
  • Written consent of each woman worker for such work and for such period, shall be obtained in Form “L” and preserved for three years
  • All reasonably practicable measures shall be ensured for the safety and security of women worker including installation of CCTV surveillance with recording facilities for at least 45 days

Registration, Forms, and Compliance

• New forms have been introduced or updated for compliance, such as:
  • Form H: Register for establishments with less than 20 workers
  • Form J and K: Intimation of closing business, split by size
  • Form L: Women’s consent for night shifts (unchanged, but still referenced).​
• Employers must keep updated records of attendance and display the work and rest schedule as per the updated guidelines.​

Effective Date and Coverage

• These Amendment Rules came into force immediately from 1 October 2025 and apply across all districts, municipal corporations, councils, and rural regions within Maharashtra.​

Summary:

Notification_of_the_Shops_and_Establishments_Regulation_of_Employment_and_Conditions_of_Service_Amendment_Rules_2025