Chandigarh: The Haryana govt has issued a new notification that establishes clear guidelines for employee working hours and operational flexibility for businesses.Under these rules, no employee can be required to work more than 48 hours in a week or 10 hours in a day. The total daily working hours, including rest intervals, is capped at 12 hours. Employers are mandated to pay overtime wages at twice the normal rate, and no employee is permitted to work for more than six consecutive hours without a break of at least 30 minutes.The labour department’s notification on Tuesday grants shops and commercial establishments exemptions from fixed opening hours and mandatory weekly closures. This change allows eligible businesses to operate round the clock, provided they register online through a self-certification system. This exempts them from sections 9 and 10 of the Haryana Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, which previously regulated these hours.The notification also permits the employment of women during night shifts from 8 pm to 6 am. However, this is allowed only after obtaining approval through an auto-mode exemption process and remains subject to previously notified safety and security conditions.Rajeev Ranjan, principal secretary of the Haryana labour department, said these exemptions do not override laws or directives issued by other authorities, such as police or other govt depts. To ensure transparency, establishments are required to prominently display a copy of this notification at all entry and exit points for their employees.Officials confirmed that this decision replaces a 2009 notification. It is intended to improve the ease of doing business across the state while maintaining a necessary balance with labour protections and worker welfare.
