Under the new law, businesses employing fewer than 20 workers will not be required to register
PANAJI
The State government has moved to enact a new law for shops and establishments arguing that the existing one is “obsolete” in today’s day and age where businesses have to compete with online operations in many sectors.
Labour Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate introduced the new law the government wants to enact – The Goa Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) – in the Goa legislative assembly late on Tuesday night which the House is expected to discuss and pass on Thursday or Friday.
It will govern shops, commercial establishments, residential hotels, restaurants, eating houses, theatres and other places of public amusement or entertainment employing at least twenty workers and more.
It also repeals the existing Goa Shops and Establishments Act, 1973 (Act No. 13 of 1974) and regulates the service conditions of workers.
The current digital technology has revolutionised the mode of business activities to selling goods and services online on a 24-hour basis which is why the law needs to be repealed so shops and establishments can compete with online businesses in their respective sectors, the bill states in its statement of objects and reasons.
“The provisions of the said Act of keeping a shop or establishment closed for business on one day of the week and to restrict the opening and closing hours of establishments have become obsolete,” the bill’s ‘objects and reasons’ further states, adding that it is necessary to provide even platform for offline business to compete with online business.
In line with the “ease of doing business” policy of the government, it is necessary that the marginal and small establishments engaging less than twenty employees need to be liberalised from registration under the Act, it adds.
