The Himachal Pradesh government has amended its labour laws to permit shops and commercial establishments to operate round the clock, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on Tuesday.
Amendments to Labour Laws
Chairing a review meeting of the Labour and Employment Department, Sukhu said the state government has amended the Himachal Pradesh Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1969, and its related rules. These changes aim to enable more effective implementation of the law across the state.
Under the amended provisions, shops and commercial establishments have been allowed to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “This will provide greater flexibility to businesses and enable consumers to shop at their convenience,” the Chief Minister stated.
Digitalization of Services
Sukhu directed the department to fully digitize the delivery of all its services, including certificates and licenses, to ensure that people do not face inconvenience in obtaining these documents. He also urged officials to ensure that benefits of various welfare schemes reach all eligible beneficiaries in a timely manner.
Employment Generation Initiatives
Highlighting the government’s employment-generation initiatives, Sukhu said that under the Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-up Yojana-2023, youths are being provided a 50 percent subsidy for purchasing e-taxis. “In the financial year 2026-27, 500 more youth will be provided a 50 percent subsidy for purchasing e-taxis, for which a provision of Rs 50 crore has been made in the budget,” the Chief Minister said.
He added that during the ongoing financial year, about 500 youth will also receive a 50 percent capital subsidy through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for the purchase of e-rickshaws.
These measures are expected to boost entrepreneurship and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for the youth in the state.
