Gujarat · Act 4 of 2019

The Gujarat Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2019.

to provide for regulation of conditions of employment and other conditions of service of workers employed in shops and other establishments and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

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Extra No.4

~~

tltbt c1ujarat c10btmmtnt c1a,tttt
EXTRAORDINARY

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
Vol. LX] THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019/PHALGUNA 16, 1940

Separate paging is given to this Part in order that it may be filed as a Separate Compilation.

PART IV

Acts of Gujarat Legislature and Ordinances promulgated and Regulations
made by the Governor.

The following Act of the Gujarat Legislature, having been assented to by
the Governor on the 6th March, 2019 is hereby published for general information.

K.M. LALA,
Secretary to the Government of Gujarat,

Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department.

GUJARA T ACT NO.4 OF 2019.

(First published, after having received the assent of the Governor, in the
"Gujarat Government Gazette", on the 7th March, 2019).

ANACT ,
to provide for regulation of conditions of employment and other conditions

of service of workers employed in shops and other establishments
and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

It is hereby enacted in the Seventieth Year of the Republic of India

as follows:-

CHAPTER I

PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Act may be called the Gujarat Shops and Establishments

(Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2019.

(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Gujarat.

Short title,
extent,
application and
commencement.

IV-Ex.-4 4-1



4-2 GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-M-1019

(3) The provisions of this Act, except section 7, shall apply to the

shops and establishments employing ten or more workers; and the

provisions of section 7 shall apply to the shops and establishments

employing less than ten workers.

(4) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government

may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

Definitions. 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a)"day" means the period of twenty-four hours beginning at midnight;

(b) "employer" means a person owning or having controlover the affairs of

an establishment, and includes,-

(i) in the case of a firm or association of individuals, a partner or

member of the firm or association;

(ii) in the case of a company, a director of the company;

(iii) in the case of an establishment owned or controlled by the

Central Government or a State Government or any local

authority, the person or persons appointed to manage the

affairs of such establishment by the Central Government or

the State Government or the local authority, as the case may

be;

(c) "establishment" means an establishment which carries on, any business,

trade, manufacture or any journalistic or printing work, or business of

banking, insurance, stocks and shares, brokerage or exchange or profession

or any work in connection with, or incidental or ancillary to, any business,

trade or profession or manufacture; and includes, -

(i) establishment of any medical practitioner (including

hospital, dispensary, clinic, polyclinic, maternity home

and such others), architect, engineer, accountant, tax

consultant or any other technical or professional

consultant;

[I>ART IV



PART IV]

XXI of 1860.

LXIII of 1948.

LXIII of 1948.

Born. LIXof 1949.

Guj.34 of 1964.

Guj. 18 of 1993.

GUJARA T GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019

(ii) a society registered under the Societies Registration Act,

1860, and a charitable or other trust, whether registered

or not, which carries on, whether for purposes of gain or

not, any business, trade or profession or work 10

connection with or incidental or ancillary thereto;

(iii) shop, residential hotel, restaurant, eating house, theatre or

other place of public amusement or entertainment; to

whom the provisions of the Factories Act, 1948 do not

apply;

(iv) such other establishment as the State Government may,

by notification in the Official Gazette, declare to be an

establishment for the purposes of this Act;

(d) "factory" means any premises and the precincts thereof which

is a factory within the meaning of clause (m) of section 2 and

section 85 of the Factories Act, 1948;

(e) "holiday" means a day on which a WOller shall be given a

weekly off under the provisions of this Act;

(t) "Inspector" means anInspector appointed under section 24;

(g) "leave" means a leave mentioned in Chapter IV of this Act;

(h) "local authority" means,-

(i) a Municipal Corporation constituted under the

Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act,

1949;

(ii) a Municipality constituted under the Gujarat

Municipalities Act, 1963;

(iii) a Panchayat constituted under the Gujarat

Panchayats Act, 1993;

(i) "member of the family of an employer" means the wife,

husband, son, daughter, father, mother, brother or sister of an

employer who lives with and is dependent on such employer;

4-3



4-4 GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019

U) "opened" means opened for the service of any customer, or for

any business of the establishment, or for work, by or with the

help of any worker of or connected with the establishment;

(k) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(I) "register of establishments" means a register maintained for the

registration of shops and establishments under this Act, either

manually or in electronic format;

(m) "registration certificate" means a certificate of the registration

of a shop or establishment;

(n) "shift" means where work of the same kind is carried out by two

or more sets of workers working during different periods of the

day, each of such sets is called a group or relay and each of such

period is called a shift;

(0) "shop" means any premises where goods are sold, either by

retail or wholesale or where services are rendered to customers,

and includes an office, a store-room, godown, warehouse or

work place, whether in the same premises or otherwise, mainly

used in connection with such trade or business, but does not

include a factory;

(p) "spread-over" means the period between the commencement

and the termination of the work of a worker on any day;

(q) "wages" means all remuneration (whether by way of salary,

allowances or otherwise) expressed in terms of money or

capable of being so expressed which would, if the terms of

employment, expressed or implied, were fulfilled, be payable to

a person employed in respect of his employment or of work

done in such employment, and includes-

(i) any remuneration payable under any award or

settlement between the parties or under any order of a

court or tribunal;

[PART IV



PART IV] GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019

(ii) any remuneration to which the person employed is

entitled in respect of overtime work or holidays or any

leave period;

(iii) any additional remuneration payable under the terms

of employment;

(iv) any sum which, by reason of the termination of

employment of the person employed, is payable under

any law, contract or instrument which provides for the

payment of such sum, whether with or without

deductions;

(v) any sum to which the person employed is entitled

under any scheme framed under any law, for the time

being in force; and

(vi) house rent allowance payable in cash,

but does not include-

(a) any bonus, which does not form part of the

remuneration payable under the terms of employment or

which is not payable under any award or settlement

between the parties or under any order of a court;

(b) the value of any accommodation, or of the supply of

light, water, medical attendance or other amenity or of

any service excluded from the computation of wages by

a general or special order ofthe State Government;

(c) any contribution paid by the employer to any pension or

provident fund, and the interest which may have accrued

thereon;

(d) any travelling allowance or the value of any travelling

concession;

4-5



4-6

Act not to
apply to
certain

persons and
premises.

Application of
the Act to

other
establishments

and workers.

GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019 [PART IV

(r)

(e) any sum paid to the employed person to defray special

expenses entailed to him by the nature of his

employment; or

(f) any gratuity payable on the termination of employment

in cases other than those specified in sub-clause (iv);

"week" means the period of seven days beginning at midnight

of Saturday;

"worker" means any person including a person engaged

through an outsourcing agency (except an apprentice under the

Apprentices Act, 1961) employed to do any manual, unskilled, 52 of 1961.

skilled, technical, operational or clerical work for hire or

reward, whether the terms of employment be express or

implied.

(s)

3. (1) The provisions of this Act shall not apply to,-

(a) establishments ofthe Central orthe State Government;

(b) establishments of local authorities;

(c) offices of Reserve Bank of India;

(d) a worker whose work is inherently intermittent;

(e) a member of the family of an employer.

(2) A list of the workers referred to in clauses (d) and (e) shall be

displayed at a conspicuous place in the shop or establishment and a copy

of thereof shall be sent to the Inspector.

4. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the State Government

may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare any establishment or

class of establishments to which, or any worker or person or class of workers

or persons to whom, this Act or any of the provisions thereof does not for the

time being apply, to bean establishment or class of establishments or a worker

or a person or class of workers or persons to which or whom this Act or any

provisions thereof with such modifications or adaptations as may in the



PART IV] GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019

opinion of the State Government be necessary shall apply from such date, as

may be specified in the notification.

(2) On such declaration under sub-section (I), any such establishment or

class of establishments or such worker or person or class of workers or

persons shall be deemed to be an establishment or class of establishments to

which, or to be a worker or a person or class of workers or persons to

whom, this Act applies and all or any of the provisions of this Act with

such modification or adaptation as may be specified in such declaration,

shall apply to such establishment or class of establishments or to such

worker or persons or class of workers or persons.

5. The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette,

suspend the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act for such

period and subject to such conditions as it may deem fit on account of any

festive or other occasions.

CHAPTER II

REGISTRATION OF SHOPS AND ESTABLISHMENTS

6. (1) Within a period of sixty days from the date of commencement of

this Act or the date on which any shop or establishment commences its

business, the employer of every shop and establishment shall submit an

application in a prescribed form for registration to the concerned Inspector,

together with such fees and such self-declaration and self-certified

documents as may be prescribed:

Provided that, nothing contained hereinabove shall apply to the
Born. LXXIX

of 1948. shops and establishments already having valid registration under the

Gujarat Shops and Establishments Act, 1948 until the expiry of their

registration.

4-7

Suspension
of the
operation of
provisions
of the Act.

Registration of
shops or
establishments.



4-8

Intimation by
establishment

having less
than ten
workers.

GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019 [PART IV

(2) On receipt of the application along with the documents and the fees, the

Inspector shall, register the shop or establishment in the register of

establishments in such manner as may be prescribed and shall issue, in a

prescribed form, a registration certificate to the employer within the

prescribed time limit. The registration certificate shall be produced

whenever it is demanded by the Inspector.

(3)A registration certificate issued under sub-section (2) shall remam m

force from the date of issue till the change in ownership or nature of

business takes place. In case of change in ownership or nature of business,

the employer of every establishment shall have to obtain the fresh

registration certificate.

7. (1) Within a period of sixty days from the date of the

commencement of this Act or the date on which establishment commences

its business, the employer of every establishment employing less than ten

workers shall give an intimation of having commenced the business to the

Inspector in whose jurisdiction the establishment is located, by submitting

online application in the prescribed form together with such self-declaration

and self-certified documents, as may be prescribed, containing details such

as name of the employer and manager, name of the establishment, nature of

business, number of workers and such other details as may be prescribed.

The Inspector shall issue to the employer of such establishment, a receipt of

intimation in such form and manner as may be prescribed. The details of the

intimation receipt shall be recorded online in a register maintained in such

form as may be prescribed:

Provided thatif at any point of time the number of workers engaged

in the establishment become ten or more, then all provisions of this Act

shall apply to such establishment and the employer of such establishment

shall have to obtain registration as per the provisions of section 6.

Provided that, nothing contained hereinabove shall apply to the

shops and establishments already having valid registration under the Gujarat Born. LXXIX
of 1948.

Shops and Establishments Act, 1948 until the expiry of their registration.



PART IV] GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019

(2) The employer of such establishment employing less than ten workers

shall inform, in such form and manner as may be prescribed, the Inspector

within thirty days from the date of the closing of the business that such

establishment has been closed for business. The Inspector on receiving the

information shall remove the entry of such establishment from the register

of establishments.

8. At any time, if it is found or brought to the notice of the Inspector

that the registration of any shop or establishment has been obtained by

misrepresentation or suppression of material facts or by submitting false or

forged documents or false declaration or by fraud, the Inspector shall, after

giving an opportunity of being heard to the employer of the shop or

establishment, cancel the registration and remove such shop or

establishment from the register of establishments in the manner as may be

prescribed.

9. It shall be the duty of every employer to inform to the Inspector, in

the prescribed form, any change in any of the particulars contained in the

application submitted under section 6within such period, after the change

has taken place, as the State Government may prescribe. The Inspector

shall, on receiving such notice and the prescribed fees along with the self-

declaration of the applicant and self-certified documents as may be

prescribed, make the change in the register of establishments in accordance

with such notice and shall issue a fresh registration certificate.

10. The employer shall inform, in such form and in such manner, as

may be prescribed, to the Inspector within thirty days from the date of

closing of the business that the shop or establishment has been closed for

business. The Inspector on receiving the information and on being satisfied

about its correctness shall remove the entry of such shop or establishment

from the register of establishments and cancel the registration certificate:

4-9

Cancellation
of registration
of shop or
establishment.

Notice of
change in
particulars.

Notice for
closure of
business.



4-10 GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETIE, EX., 07-03-2019

Provided that, if the Inspector does not receive the information but

he is otherwise satisfied that any shop or establishment has been closed, he

may remove the entry of such shop or establishment from the register of

establishments and cancel such certificate.

CHAPTER III

DUTIES OF EMPLOYER

Health
and safety
of worker.

11. (1) Every employer shall take such measures relating to the health

and safety of the worker including cleanliness, lighting, ventilation and

prevention of fire as may be prescribed.

(2) Every employer shall be responsible for providing constant adequate

supervision of the worker employed in the shop or establishment and to

ensure the compliance with the rules relating to health and safety made

under sub-section (1) and for taking steps necessary to prevent accidents.

Fixing of 12. Subject to the other provisions of this Act, no worker shall be
hours of

work. required or allowed to work in any shop or establishment for more than nine

hours in any day and forty-eight hours in a week. No worker shall be

compelled to work continuously for more than five hours unless he has been

given a break of not less than half an hour:

Provided that, the working hours or weekly holiday may be relaxed

In case of work of urgent nature with the previous permission of the

Inspector.

Prohibition of 13. (1) No woman worker shall be discriminated In the matter of
discrimination

of women. recruitment, training, transfer or promotion or wages.

(2) .No woman worker shall be required or allowed to work In any

establishment except between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.:

Provided that, where the Inspector or any person, authorized by it in

this behalf, is satisfied that the provisions of shelter, rest room, night

creche, ladies toilet, adequate protection of dignity, honour and safety,

protection from sexual harassment, and their transportation from the shop or

[PART IV



PART IV] GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019 4-11

establishment to the door step of their residence exists in such shop or

establishment, it may, by order, after obtaining the consent of the woman

worker, allow her to work between 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. subject to such

conditions as may be specified in the order.

14. The spread-over of a worker in any shop or establishment shall not Spread-over

d d h If h . d d . k d . h of hours ofexcee ten an a ours III any ay, an III case a wor er entruste Wit kwor.
intermittent nature of work or urgent work, the spread-over shall not exceed

twelve hours.

15. Where a worker is required to work in a shop or establishment

beyond nine hours a day or forty-eight hours a week, he shall be entitled, in

respect of the overtime work, wages at the rate of twice his ordinary rate of

wages. The total number of overtime hours shall not exceed one hundred

and twenty-five hours in a period of three months.

Payment of
wages for
overtime.

16. (1) A department or any section of a department of the shop or Shift

bli h k . h hift h d· . f h working andesta IS ment may wor III more t an one s 1 s at t e iscretion 0 t e tres.

employer and if more than one shifts are worked, the worker may be

required to work in any shift at the discretion of the employer.

(2) A shop or establishment may work on all days in a week subject to the

condition that every worker shall be allowed weekly holiday of at least

twenty- four consecutive hours of rest.

(3) If a worker is denied weekly holiday, the compensatory leave in lieu

thereof shall be given within two months of such weekly holiday.

(4) The period and hours of work in a week for all classes of workers in

such shift shall be informed to all workers in writing and shall be sent to the

Inspector electronically or otherwise.

(5) Where a worker is required to work on a day of his rest, he shall be

entitled to wages at the rate of twice his ordinary rate of wages.



4-12

Furnishing
identity card to

worker.

Annual leave,
casual and sick
leave and other

holidays.

GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019

17. The employer of a shop or an establishment shall furnish to every

worker an identity card which shall be produced by the worker on demand

by Inspector. Such card shall contain particulars as may be prescribed.

CHAPTER IV

LEAVE WITH PAY AND PAYMENT OF WAGES

18. (1) Every worker shall be allowed a weekly holiday with wages:

Provided that the State Government may, by notification in the

Official Gazette, fix different days as weekly holiday for different classes of

shops and establishments or areas.

(2) Every worker shall be entitled to seven days casual leave with wages in

every calendar year which shall be credited into the account of the worker

in the beginning of the calendar year, but it shall lapse if the casual leave

remains un-availed at the end of the year.

(3) Every worker shall be entitled to seven days leave on medical grounds

with wages in every calendar year which shall be credited into the account

of the worker in the beginning of the calendar year, but shall lapse if

un-availed at the end of the year.

(4) Every worker who has worked for a period of two hundred and forty

days or more in a shop or establishment during a calendar year shall be

allowed during the subsequent calendar year, leave with wages for a

number of days calculated at the rate of one day for every twenty days of

work performed by him during the previous calendar year.

(5) Every worker shall be permitted to accumulate earned leave up to a

maximum of sixty-three days.

(6) Where the employer refuses to sanction the leave which is due under

sub-section (4) when applied fifteen days in advance, then the worker shall

have a right to encash leave in excess of sixty-three days:

Provided that, if a worker is entitled to leave other than causal and

festival leave under this section, is discharged by his employer before he has

[PART IV



PART IV]

20 of 1946.

530f1961.

GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019

been allowed the leave, or if, having applied for and having been refused

the leave, he quits his employment on account of retirement, resignation,

death or permanent disability, the employer shall pay him full wages for the

period of leave due to him.

(7) A worker shall be entitled to eight paid festival holidays in a calendar

year, namely, the 26th January, 15th August and 2nd October and five such

other festival holidays as may be agreed to between the employer and the

workers before the commencement of the year. On these days, he shall be

paid wages at the rate equivalent to his ordinary rate of wages excluding

overtime:

Provided that, the employer may require any worker to work in the

shop or establishment on all or any of these days, subject to the conditions

that for such work the worker shall be paid double the amount of the

ordinary rate of wages and also leave on any other day in lieu of the

compulsory holiday.

(8) For the purpose of sub-section (4),-

(a) any days of lay-off, by agreement or contract or as permissible

under the model standing orders or standing orders certified

under provisions of the Industrial Employment (Standing

Orders) Act, 1946;

(b) in the case of a woman worker, maternity leave under the

provisions of the Maternity Benefits Act, 1961;

(c) the leave earned in the year prior to that in which the leave is

availed; or

(d) the absence of the worker due to temporary disablement

caused by an accident arising out of and in the course of his

employment,

shall be deemed to be days on which the worker has worked in the shop or

establishment for the purpose of computation of the period of two

hundred and forty days or more, but shall not earn leave for these days.

4-13



4-14

Drinking water.

Latrines and
urinals.

Creche facility.

First-aid.

GUJARA T GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019

(9) The leave admissible under sub-section (4) shall be exclusive of all

holidays whether occurring during or either at the end of the period of

leave.

(10) Every worker shall be paid wages for the period of his leave earned

under sub-sections (4) and (5) at a rate equivalent to the daily average of

his wages for the days on which he actually worked during the preceding

three months, exclusive of any earnings in respect of overtime.

CHAPTER V

WELFARE PROVISIONS

19. Every employer shall make effective arrangements to provide and

maintain at suitable points conveniently situated for all workers employed

in the shop or establishment, a sufficient supply of wholesome drinking

water.

20. Every employer shall provide sufficient latrine and urinal for men

and women as may be prescribed and these shall be so conveniently situated

as may be accessible for the workers employed in the shop or

establishment:

Provided that, several employers may provide common facilities of

latrines and urinals, in case it is not possible to provide such facility

individually, in a shop or establishment due to constraint of space or

otherwise.

21. In every shop or establishment wherein thirty or more women

workers are employed, there shall be provided and maintained a suitable

room or rooms as creche for the use of children of such workers:

Provided that, if a group of shops or establishments decide to

provide a common creche within a radius of one kilometer, then, the same

shall be permitted by the Inspector by an order, subject to such conditions

as may be specified in the order:

22. Every employer shall provide at the place of work first-aid facilities

as may be prescribed.

[PART IV



PART IV] GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019 4-15

23. The employer shall provide and maintain' in the shop or Canteen.

establishment, wherein not less than one hundred workers are employed or

ordinarily employed to maintain a canteen for the use of its workers:

Provided that, if a group of shops or establishments decide to

provide a common canteen, then the same shall be permitted by the

Inspector by an order, subject to such conditions as may be specified in the

order.

CHAPTER VI

ENFORCEMENT AND INSPECTION

24. (1) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, it shall be the duty of

every local authority to enforce, within the area subject to its jurisdiction,

the provisions of this Act, subject to the supervision of the State

Government.

(2) For the areas not having jurisdiction of local authority, the State

Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, without the

necessity of giving any further notice or reasons, specify the authorities for

performing the duties of enforcing the provisions of this Act from a date

specified in that notification. From such date, it shall be the duty of such

authorities to enforce the provisions of the Act, subject to the supervision of

the State Government.

(3) For an area within the jurisdiction of a local authority, the local

authority and for other areas, the State Government shall, subject to the

provisions of sub-section (4), appoint as many Inspectors for the purpose of

carrying out the provisions of this Act.

(4) A local authority or, as the case may be, the State Government may direct

that the powers conferred on it by this section shall in such circumstances,

and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the direction, be

exercised by authorities referred to in sub-sections (1) and (2) .

Provisions for
handing over
enforcement of
Act to
authorities.



4-16

Powers and
duties of

Inspectors.

GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019

25. (1) The State Government may make a scheme for inspection of

shops and establishments which may provide for generation of a web based

inspection schedule.

(2) Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, the Inspector may,

within the local limits for which he is appointed-

(i) advice the employers and workers and provide them such

information as may be considered necessary for complying with

the provisions of this Act effectively;

(ii) inspect the shops or establishments In accordance with the

scheme for inspection referred to in sub-section (3), and may-

(a) enter, at all reasonable time and with such assistants, if

any, being persons in the service of the Government or

of any local authority as he thinks fit, any place which

is or which he has reason to believe is a shop or

establishment;

(b) make such examination of the premises and of any

prescribed registers, records and notices, and take on

the spot or otherwise evidence of any persons as he may

deem necessary for carrying out the purposes of this

Act;

(c) examine any person who is found in any premises ofthe

shop or establishment and whom, the Inspector has

reasonable cause to believe, is a worker of the shop or

establishment;

(d) require any person to give any information, which is in

his possession with respect to the names and addresses

of the persons;

(e) search, seize or take copies of such register, record of

wages or notices or portions thereof as he may consider

relevant in respect of an offence under this Act and

which he has reason to believe has been committed by

the employer;

[PART IV



PART IV]

45 of 1860.

2 of 1974.

45 of 1860.

GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019

(f) bring to the notice of the State Government defects

found during inspection; and

(g) exercise such other powers, as may be prescribed:

Provided that, no person shall be compelled under this

section to answer any question or give any evidence tending to

incriminate himself.

(3) Any person required to produce any document or to give any

information required by Inspector shall be deemed to be legally bound to do

so within the meaning of sections 175 and 176 of the Indian Penal Code.

(4) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 shall, so far as

may be, apply to the search or seizure under sub-clause (e) of clause (ii) of

sub-section (2) as they apply to the search or seizure made under the

authority of a warrant issued under section 94 ofthe said Code.

(5) Every Inspector appointed under section24 shall be deemed to be a

public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.

CHAPTER VII
RECORDS AND RETURNS

26. (1) Every employer shall maintain the registers and records, in such

form and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(2) The records may be maintained electronically or manually:

Provided that, at the time of inspection by an Inspector, a hard copy

of such records, if demanded, shall be submitted duly signed by the

employer or his representative.

(3) Every employer and in his absence the manager shall, on demand,

produce for inspection of Inspector all registers, records and notices

required to be kept under and for the purposes of this Act.

(4) All such registers and records shall be kept in the premises of the shop

or establishment to which they relate.

4-17

Maintenance
of registers
and records.



4-18

Annual
returns.

Penalty for
non-

registration of
shop or

establishment.

Penalty for
contravention

of the
provisions of

the Act.

Penalty for
contravention

of the
provisions of

the Act
resulting in

accident.

GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019

27. The employer of a shop or establishment shall furnish an annual

returns, in such a form and in such manner (including in electronic form), to

such authority as may be prescribed.

CHAPTER VIII

OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

28. Whoever, found running any establishment without registration in

contravention of the provisions of section 6 or rules made thereunder, shall

be punishable with penalty of ten thousand rupees which shall include

registration fees:

Provided that, on recovery of penalty along with registration fees,

the establishment shall be deemed to be registered and the registration

certificate shall be issued by the Inspector.

29. Whoever contravenes the provisions of this Act or the rules made

thereunder shall, if no other penalty is elsewhere provided by or under this

Act for such contravention, be punishable with fine which may extend to

fifty thousand rupees:

Provided that, the total amount of fine shall not exceed two thousand

rupees per worker employed.

30. Save as otherwise provided in this Act, where an employer on being

held found guilty of contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or

any rules made thereunder which has resulted in an accident causing serious

bodily injury or death of a worker, he shall, on conviction, be punished with

imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which shall not

be less than twenty-five thousand rupees and which may be extended to

fifty thousand rupees, or with both.

[PART IV



PART IV] GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019

31. (1) If the person committing an offence under this Act is a company,

the company as well as every person in charge of, and responsible to, the

company for the conduct of its business at the time of the commission of the

offence shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be

proceeded against and punished accordingly:

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub section (1), where an offence

under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the

offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or that the

commission of the offence is attributable to any neglect on the part of any

director, manager, managing agent or any other officer of the company,

such director, manager, managing agent or such other officer shall also be

deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded

against and punished accordingly.

Explanation. - For the purpose of this section, -

(a) "company" means anybody corporate and includes a firm or other

association of individuals; and

(b) "director" in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.

32. (1) Whoever, willfully obstructs an Inspector in exercise of any

powers conferred on him by or under this Act or refuses or willfully

neglects to afford an Inspector any reasonable facility for making any

inspection, examination, inquiry or investigation authorized by or under this

Act in relation to an establishments, shall, on conviction, be punished with

fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees.

(2) Whoever, willfully refuses to produce on the demand of an Inspector any

register or other document kept in pursuance of this Act or the rules made

thereunder or prevents or attempts to prevent or does anything which he has

reason to believe to prevent any person from appearing before, or being

examined by, an Inspector acting in pursuance of his duties under this Act,

4-19

Offences by
companies.

Penalty for
obstructions
or refusal to
provide
register, etc.



4-20

Cognizance
of offences.

Compounding
of offences.

GUJARATGOVERNMENTGAZETTE,EX., 07-03-2019 [PARTlY

shall, on conviction, be punished with fine which may extend to fifty

thousand rupees:

Provided that, total amount of fine shall not exceed two thousand

rupees per worker employed.

33. (1) No Court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under

this Act and the rules made thereunder unless a complaint in respect thereof

is made by the Inspector within three months from the date on which the

alleged commission of the offence comes to the knowledge of the Inspector:

Provided that, where the offence consists of disobeying a written

order made by the Inspector, complaint thereof may be made within six

months from the date on which the offence is alleged to have been

committed.

(2) The court of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the

First Class shall try any offence punishable under this Act or the rules made

thereunder.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained In Code of Criminal Procedure,

1973, a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class 2 of 1974.

may impose fine and penalties prescribed under this Act.

34. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal

Procedure, 1973, any offence punishable under this Act, not being an

offence punishable with imprisonment only, or with imprisonment and also

with fine, may, on an application of the accused person, either before or

after the institution of any prosecution, be compounded by such Officer, as

the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify,

with fine provided for such offence, in the manner as may be prescribed.

(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to an offence

committed by a person for the second time or thereafter within a period of

five years from the date-

(a) of commission of a similar offence which was earlier

compounded;

2 of 1974.



PART IV] GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019 4-21

(b) of commission of a similar offence for which such person

was earlier convicted.

(3) Every officer referred to in sub-section (1) shall exercise the powers to

compound an offence, subject to the direction, control and supervision of

the State Government.

(4) Every application for the compounding of an offence shall be made in

such form and in such manner as may be prescribed.

(5) Where any offence is compounded before the institution of any

prosecution, no prosecution shall be instituted in relation to such offence,

against the offender in relation to whom the offence is so compounded.

(6) Where the composition of any offence is made after the institution of

any prosecution, such composition shall be brought by the officer referred

to in sub-section (1) in writing, to the notice of the Court in which the

prosecution is pending and on such notice of the composition of the offence

being given, the person against whom the offence is so compounded shall

be discharged.

(7) Any person who fails to comply with an order made by the officer

referred to in sub-section (I), shall be liable to pay a sum equivalent to

twenty percent of the maximum fine provided for the offence, in addition to

such fine.

(8) No offence punishable under the provisions of this Act shall be

compounded except under and in accordance with the provisions of this

section.

CHAPTER IX

MISCELLANEOUS

35. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained

establishment if situated,-

(a) (i) in Municipal Corporation Area, or

(ii) on National Highway, or

(iii) on Railway Platform, or

(iv) at State Roadways bus station premises, or

(v) in Hospital premises, or

in this Act, any shop or Opening
and closing
hours.



4-22

Protection
of rights of

workers
under any
other law,

etc.

GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019

(vi)on petrol pumps,

may remain open 24 hours on any day of the week:

Provided that, the worker shall be allowed to work in accordance with

the provisions of sections 12,14,16 and 18 of this Act;

(b) in Municipality area or on State Highway may be opened except from

2.00 A.M to 6.00 A.M.:

Provided that, the worker shall be allowed to work in accordance

with the provisions of sections 12, 14, 16 and 18 of this Act;

(c) in the areas other than the areas mentioned in clauses (a) and (b) above

in district or on minor road may be opened except from 11.00 P. M. to 6.00

A.M.:

Provided that, the worker shall be allowed to work in accordance

with the provisions of sections 12, 14, 16 and 18 of this Act;

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), considering the

circumstances relating to traffic, public health, public safety, public

nuisance or such other reason which may affect law and order situation, the

hours for opening and closing of different classes of shops or establishments

and for different premises, shopping complex or mall or for different area or

areas and for different period may be curtailed by such authority as the

State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.

36. Nothing in this Act shall affect any right or privileges which a

worker in any shop or establishment is entitled to at the date of

commencement of this Act under any other law, contract, custom or usage

applicable to such shop or establishment or any award, settlement or

agreement binding on the employer and the worker in such shop or

establishment, if such rights or privileges are more favourable to him than

those to which he would be entitled under this Act.

[PART IV



PART IV] GUJARAT GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, EX., 07-03-2019

37. (1) No suit, prosecution or legal proceedings shall lie against any

public servant or any other person, acting under the direction of any such

public servant, for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be

done under this Act or any rule or order made there under.

(2) No suit, prosecution or legal proceedings shall lie against the

Government for any damage caused or likely to be caused by anything

which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act

or any rules or order made there under.

38. The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to, and not In

derogation of, the provisions of any other law for the time being in force.

39. (1) The State Government may, by notification In the Official

Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.

(2) All rules made under this Act shall be subject to the condition of

previous publication.

(3) All rules made under this section shall be laid for not less than thirty

days before the State Legislature as soon as may be after they are made and

shall be subject to rescission by the State Legislature or to such

modifications as the State Legislature may make during the session in

which they are so laid or session immediately following. Any rescission or

modification so made by the State Legislature shall be published in the

Official Gazette, and shall thereupon take effect.

40. (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this

Act, the State Government may, as occasion arises, by an order published in

the Official Gazette, do anything not inconsistent with the provisions of this

Act, which appears to it to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of

removing the difficulty:

4-23

Protection
of action
taken in
good faith.

Act not in
derogation of
any other
law.

Power to
make rules.

Power to
remove
difficulties.



4-24

Repeal and
saving.

GUJARATGOVERNMENTGAZETTE,EX., 07-03-2019

Provided that, no such order shall be made after the expiry of the period of

two years from the date of commencement of this Act.

(2) Every order made under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may be,

after it is made, before the State Legislature.

41. On and from the date of commencement of this Act, the Gujarat

Shops and Establishments Act, 1948 shall stand repealed:

Provided that,

(a) every appointment, order, rule, bye-law, regulation,

notification, registration or notice made, issued or given under the

provisions of the Act so repealed shall, in so far as it is not inconsistent

with the provisions of this Act, be deemed to have been made, issued or

given under the provisions of this Act, unless and until superseded by any

appointment, order, rule, bye-law, regulation, notification or notice made,

issued or given under this Act;

(b) any proceeding relating to the trial of any offence punishable

under the provisions of the Act so repealed shall be continued and

completed as if the said Act had not been repealed but had continued in

operation and any penalty imposed on such proceedings shall be recovered

under the Act so repealed.

Government Central Press, Gandhinagar.

[PARTlY

LXXIX of
1948.


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Jurisdiction
Gujarat
Enactment date
2019-03-07
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India Code, Government of India. Text fetched 19 Oct 2026. Check the linked official text and subsequent notifications when applying a provision.

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