The Assembly on Friday passed a Bill to amend the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954, with a view to promote “employment generation, economic activity, and gender inclusion”.
The Delhi Shops and Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2026, however, will not cover smaller establishments, thereby depriving such workers of rights and protection under the existing law.
The Bill, cleared within five minutes, limits the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954’s applicability to commercial establishments “employing 20 or more employees”, excluding a vast segment of the workforce from its purview.
The Bill increases the daily working hours of employees at shops and establishments from nine hours per day to 10 hours, including rest interval and lunch break.
It also seeks amendments to allow women to work in night shifts, which was already done by an official notification last year.
