The Punjab Shops & Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Act, 2025

The Government of Punjab, vide notification no. 13-Leg./2025, dated 28^th August 2025, has amended the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, by notifying the Punjab Shops & Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Act, 2025.

The following are the key highlights of the amendment:

1. The provisions of the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, shall apply to shops and establishments employing twenty or more workers, whereas only section 13-A shall be applicable to shops and establishments employing fewer than twenty workers.

2. A new section (Section 13-A) has been inserted, mandating every establishment with fewer than twenty workers to submit an intimation of business to the inspector in a prescribed format within six months from the date of commencement of the Punjab Shops & Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Act, 2025, or within a period of six months from the date of commencement of business.

3. If at any point in time, the number of workers engaged in the establishment becomes twenty or more, then all the provisions of the Act shall apply, and accordingly, registration has to be obtained.

4. The total daily working hours have been increased from nine to ten hours. However, weekly hours shall remain as forty-eight.

5. The quarterly maximum overtime hours have been increased from fifty to one hundred forty-four hours.

6. The spread over hours has been increased from ten to twelve hours.

7. Every establishment with twenty or more employees shall, within a period of six months from the date of commencement of business, apply for registration.

8. The inspector has to issue the registration certificate within twenty-four hours. If the registration certificate is not issued within a period of twenty-four hours from the date of receipt of the application, it shall be deemed to have been granted.

9. The registration certificate shall be prominently displayed at the establishment.

10. If there are any subsequent changes in the details furnished by the employer at the time of registration, an intimation with details of changes shall be made within thirty days of such change, and a fresh registration certificate shall be obtained.

11. The employer shall, within thirty days of closure of the establishment, give an intimation of such closure to the inspector and cancel (surrender) the registration.

Apart from the above changes, revision also has been made in monitory penalties imposable for contravention of the provisions of the Act.