Amendments in the Haryana Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958 – working hours, registration requirements and penal consequences

We are pleased to share our latest EY PAS Alert summarizing the amendments to the Haryana Shops & Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, notified by the Haryana Government through an Ordinance on 12 November 2025.

Key changes introduced by the Ordinance include:

• Online registration with lifetime validity: Covered establishments must now register online, with certificates issued within one working day and no requirement for periodic renewal.
• Expanded coverage: The Act now applies to establishments employing 20 or more workers, while smaller establishments must file an online intimation.
• Flexible working hours: Employers may implement a 10-hour workday, provided the weekly cap of 48 hours is maintained.
• Increased overtime limit: The permissible overtime has been raised from 50 to 156 hours per quarter, with overtime wages at twice the normal rate.
• Mandatory employee documentation: Appointment letters and identity cards must be issued to all employees.
• Rationalized penalties: Imprisonment provisions for minor violations have been removed and replaced with monetary penalties, which have been substantially increased for non-compliance.

We recommend reviewing the attached alert and assessing the implications for your organization. Please consider updating your internal policies and processes to align with the new requirements and communicating these changes effectively to your workforce.

For further details, please contact:

Sonu Iyer
People Advisory Services
Partner & Leader - India Region
Email: Sonu.Iyer@in.ey.com

Puneet Gupta
People Advisory Services
Partner
Email: Puneet1.Gupta@in.ey.com