Bare Act

The KERALA SHOPS AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS ACT

General196039 sections9 chapters

The Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1960, is a foundational labor legislation in Kerala designed to regulate working conditions in shops and commercial establishments. It establishes mandatory standards for working hours, rest intervals, weekly holidays, and annual leave, while also requiring businesses to register with the state. The Act protects employees by ensuring fair treatment, prohibiting the exploitation of children, and strictly regulating the employment of women. It applies to a wide range of entities, including shops, hotels, restaurants, and theaters. For the ordinary citizen, this Act is essential as it guarantees basic workplace rights, ensures safe working environments, and provides a legal framework for resolving employment disputes.

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 2Definitions
  2. 3Exemptions
  3. 4Power of Government to apply Act to exempted persons or establishments
  4. 5Exemptions
  5. 5ARegistration of establishments
  6. 5BAppeals
  7. 5CDuties of employer

Chapter II HOURS OF WORK →

  1. 6Daily and Weekly Hours
  2. 7Extra wages for overtime work
  3. 8Intervals for rest
  4. 9Spread over
  5. 10Opening and closing hours
  6. 11Closing of shops and grant of weekly holidays

Chapter III HOLIDAYS AND LEAVE →

  1. 12Application of Chapter
  2. 13Annual leave with wages
  3. 15Power of Inspectors to act for employees
  4. 16Power to exempt establishments

Chapter IV WAGES →

  1. 17Application and amendment of the Payment of Wages Act
  2. 18Notice of Dismissal

Chapter V EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN AND WOMEN →

  1. 19Prohibition of employment of children
  2. 20Prohibition of employment of women and persons below seventeen years during night

Chapter VI HEALTH AND SAFETY →

  1. 21Cleanliness, ventilation and lighting
  2. 22Precaution against fire
  3. 23Appeals
  4. 24Apportionment of expenses under preceding sections

Chapter VII ENFORCEMENT AND INSPECTION →

  1. 25Appointment of Inspectors
  2. 26Powers and duties of Inspectors
  3. 27Inspector to be public servant
  4. 28Employer to produce registers, records etc., for inspection

Chapter VIII OFFENCES, PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE →

  1. 29Penalties

Chapter IX MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 30Maintenance of registers and records and display of notices
  2. 31Saving of certain rights and privileges
  3. 32Indemnity
  4. 33Delegation of powers
  5. 34Power to make rules
  6. 35Power of Government to suspend provisions of the Act during fairs and festivals
  7. 36Repeal of certain enactments

PDF: pending for this language.