The Gujarat Legislative Assembly has approved an amendment to the state’s Shops and Establishments Act, introducing longer work hours and permitting women to work night shifts under strict safety conditions.
The new law raises the maximum daily working limit from nine to ten hours, including rest breaks, and increases the overtime ceiling per quarter. This change is expected to give employers greater operational flexibility, especially in fast-growing sectors such as retail, logistics, and services.
A key provision allows women to work between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., provided they consent and employers meet mandatory safeguards. These include secure transport, adequate security arrangements, separate restrooms, crèche facilities where required, and strong measures to prevent workplace harassment. Authorities retain the right to restrict or regulate night work in specific areas if safety or law-and-order concerns arise.
The government has positioned the amendment as part of its broader effort to modernise labour laws, align them with evolving business needs, and expand employment opportunities for women. Labour experts, however, caution that the success of the reform will depend on effective enforcement—particularly around workplace safety, overtime compliance and welfare protections.
For HR leaders, the amendment signals both opportunity and responsibility. It opens new avenues for workforce participation, especially for women, but also requires organisations to strengthen policies on safety, inclusivity, and compliance. Gujarat now joins other states recalibrating labour frameworks to balance economic growth with worker rights in a changing employment landscape.
