The Shop and Establishment Act regulates the shops and commercial establishments operating within the state. Every state has its own Shop and Establishment Act (“Act”). However, the general provisions of the Act are the same in all states. The Labour Department of the respective states implements the Shop and Establishment Act. Shops are generally defined under the Act as the premises where the selling of goods take place either by retail or wholesale or where services are rendered to customers. It includes offices, godowns, storerooms and warehouses used in connection with the trade or business. Commercial establishments are generally defined as a commercial, banking, trading or insurance establishment or administrative service in which persons are employed for office work. It includes a hotel, boarding or eating house, restaurant, cafe, theatre, or other public entertainment or amusement places. However, factories and industries are not covered by the Act and are regulated by the Factories Act, 1948 and Industries (Development and Regulation) Act 1951. Registration Under The Shop and Establishment Act The shops and commercial establishments covered under the Act must mandatorily apply for registration under the respective state Act. All establishments and business, including the people working and maintaining a business from home, must obtain a Shop and Establishment Registration Certificate or Shop License (“Certificate”) under the Act. The proprietors who run a business from home without having any physical store or premises are also required to obtain this Certificate. The proprietors of e-commerce business or online business, or online stores and establishment must register under this Act and obtain the Certificate. Every shop and commercial establishment should register itself under the Act within 30 days of commencement of business. The Certificate or the Shop License acts as a basic registration/license for the business. This Certificate is produced for obtaining many other business licenses and registrations. It serves as proof of the incorporation of commercial establishment or shops. It is also useful when the proprietor of the business wants to obtain a loan or create a current bank account for the business. Most banks will ask for this Certificate for opening a current bank account. Advantages of Shop and Establishment Registration Facilitates smooth inspections- The State Government authorities and local municipality keeps a check whether the shops & establishments in a particular locality are functioning properly or not by visiting and making regular inspections. You can get over such inspections quickly and smoothly if you have the shops & establishment license. Preferable for Sole Proprietorships- As there is no specific class of registration of any sole proprietorship firm, they can opt for this license as there is no regular compliance needed in this case as compared to LLP or a Private Limited Company. Ease of opening a current business account-As per the RBI and banking norms, every shop and establishment needs to have a separate business account and minimum two business registrations are required, so this can help you in a better manner. Perhaps, the shops and establishment license will help you to open a bank account with ease. Regulations Under The Shop and Establishment Act Hours of work, annual leave, weekly holidays. Payment of wages and compensation. Prohibition of employment of children. Prohibition of employing women and young persons in the night shift. Enforcement and Inspection. Interval for rest. Opening and closing hours. Record keeping by the employers. Dismissal provisions. Eligibility All the commercial establishments, such as the amusement parks, theatres, hotels, and eateries, and other entertainment houses, as well as any other such public amusement places, are liable to get registered under the act. Commercial establishment means: Any commercial sector, such as banking, trading or insurance establishments The hotels, eateries and boarding houses or a smaller café or refreshment house Any establishment where individuals are employed or engaged to do office work or provide service Amusement and entertainment places such as theatres and cinema halls or amusement parks Process For Obtaining Shop and Establishment Registration The procedure for obtaining the Shop and Establishment Registration Certificate differs from state to state. It can be obtained online or offline. For obtaining the registration certificate online, the proprietor or owner of the shop or business must log into the respective State Labour Department website. The proprietor or owner must fill the application form for the registration under the Shop and Establishment Act, upload the documents and pay the prescribed fees. The prescribed fees differ from state to state. Once the registration form is approved, the registration certificate will be issued online to the proprietor or owner of the business. For obtaining the registration certificate offline, the registration application is to be filled and submitted to the Chief Inspector of the concerned area along with the prescribed fees. The Chief Inspector will issue the registration certificate to the owner or proprietor after being satisfied with the correctness of the application. The registration application form contains the details relating to the name of the employer and establishment, address and category of the establishment, number of employees and other relevant details as required. Documents Required For Shop And Establishment Registration The documents required for obtaining the shop and establishment registration certificate is- Shop or Business establishment address proof. ID proof of the proprietor. PAN Card of the proprietor. Details of the employees. Payment challan. Additional business licenses necessary for starting the business, if any. Validity of Shop And Establishment Registration The validity and fees of the Shop and Establishment Certificate differs from state to state. Some states provide the Certificate valid for a lifetime, while other states provide the Certificate valid for one to five years. The registration application needs to be renewed before the expiry of the period of registration. FAQs Q: Are the Shop and Establishment Act valid in all states/UTs across India? Yes, the Shop and Establishment Act applies to the whole country. However, every state/UT has its own act to govern entities falling within the state’s area/boundary. However, the general provisions of the act of all states are similar. Q: Is the Shop and Establishment Act applicable for the establishments of the central and state government? No. The establishments of the central and state government are
