Every business owner needs a proper licence to run their businesses in any state. Haryana is not an exception. Therefore, business owners of Haryana need to follow the Shops and Establishment Act in Haryana and act accordingly.

This Act gives all the necessary rules and regulations regarding wages, leave, holidays, rules regarding the employment of women and children, opening and closing hours of shops and commercial establishments, etc.

Every shop and commercial establishment within the state’s territory of Haryana is eligible to register under this Act. Here establishment means any premise where business is executed to earn a profit, such as restaurants, hotels, theatres, public entertainment places, stocks, share and brokerage exchanges etc.

Further shops stand for godowns, warehouses, offices, store-rooms, sales depots etc.

This Act exempts the following shops and establishments -

• Offices and establishments under the State and Central government
• Establishments under the Reserve Bank of India, local authorities, railway administration, etc.
• Railway service, water transport, airway service, telephone or telegraph service, tramway, air service, etc.
• Sanitation or public conservancy
• Lawyers chambers
• Power or water supply businesses
• Establishment of petition writers or stamp vendors
• Persons who work in ceaseless services

Here is a step-by-step guide to registering under this Act -

Step 1: First, applicants need to visit the official website of the labour department of the Haryana government.

Step 2: Next, create a login Id and password by providing a valid mobile number and email ID.

Step 3: Create a profile or Basic Information Performa (BIP).

Step 4: Put all necessary information in BIP, such as shop address, details of workers, business category etc.

Step 5: Submit all required documents.

Step 6: Next, applicants need to pay fees.

Step 7: Finally, submit the application.

Some of the necessary documents to complete this registration process are as follows -

• PAN card
• Aadhaar card
• Voter ID
• Driving licence
• Rental agreement
• Photo of the owner
• Photo of the shop with its owner

Applicants can easily track the application status by updates sent to their mobile number or email ID. After completing an application, applicants can download the certificate or licence, which has a 16-digit number.

Further, this number will help in the verification of the certificate.

Here are the steps regarding the renewal process of a shop licence in Haryana -

Step 1: Visit the official site of the Haryana government.

Step 2: Click on the renew licence tab.

Step 3: Fill out the required fields.

Step 4: Submit the necessary documents.

Step 5: Pay the fees.

Here are some of the important provisions of the Haryana Shops and Establishment Act -

1. Employment of Women, Children and Young Individuals

Children are completely banned from working in any shop or establishment as per the rules of this Act. In addition, no women or young individuals should work in any shop or establishment during the night.

2. Working Hours

This Act fixes the working hours of an employee to 9 hours per day and 48 hours in a week. Employers need to pay overtime wages to the employees for extra hours of work. In addition, no employee other than a guard or watchman should work more than 5 hours continuously without an interval of 1 hour.

3. Exemption of Work

Young individuals are not required to work for 9 hours a day. This Act has determined that they should work for 5 hours a day and 30 hours a week.

4. Regulations and Employment

• Employers recruiting any individual should register the appointment, working hours and intervals in Form A
• Employers need to fill out Form C as the register of employees
• For the record of the wages of the employee, Form D should be filled by the employers
• Employers should file Form E to register all deductions of the employees
• No employer can remove any employee without giving a prior notice of 1 month
• Employers should give maternity benefits to women employees mandatorily.

5. Weekly Holidays

According to the Shops and Establishment Act in Haryana, every shop shall remain closed on Sunday every week. In the case of factories under the Factories Act, 1948, owners can decide on a substitute closing day. Further, the government has the right to fix a holiday for any shop or establishment throughout the state.

6. Annual Leave With Wages

For each leave allowed to the employees and for closing days, employers should pay the full wages to their employees.

7. Right of Employees

• Employees can take a one-day mandatory holiday every week
• Employees serving in an establishment for more than 20 days are entitled to get an earned leave after every 20 days
• Young individuals can get earned leave after every 15 days
• Employees should get leave with full wages on Gandhi Jayanti, Independence Day, and Republic day
• Employees who have been working for 3 months cannot be terminated without prior notice of 1 month

8. Management of Records

• Employers need to record all the necessary details regarding the employment
• Employers need to maintain the register of the attendance of their employees
• Employers should keep the photograph of the employees who have already completed 3 months in the establishments
• Employers shall display the notice of weekly closing of the shop or establishment in any visible part of the premises.
• Form B should be maintained for display notices
• Employers should maintain Form F to maintain all records of statements for registration of establishment
• In case of any change in the previously given information, employers should maintain Form G
• Employers should maintain Form H for the registration of establishment

Some of the primary benefits of shop and establishment registration in Haryana are listed below -

• It acts as legal proof to business owners to run their business inside the state’s territory
• It allows business owners to open business accounts for daily transactions 
• After giving one-time fees, business owners won’t need to give any extra fees
• The process is wholly online nowadays, so there is the benefit of convenience
• Each business owner registered under the act can get benefits from the government
• The rules and regulations set up a peaceful work environment for both the employers and employees
• The law secures the right of the employees
• It further helps to decide the wages, weekly holidays, leave, working hours etc.
• Smooth process of inspection and checking

Thus, consider this guide to know all the necessary details about the Shops and Establishments Act in Haryana. The information will help you to complete the registration process smoothly and effectively.