Chandigarh, October 6, 2026: Traders and business owners across Punjab have received greater flexibility over their operating hours after the state government allowed registered shops and commercial establishments to remain open 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
The Labour Department has granted registered establishments exemption from provisions governing fixed opening and closing hours and the compulsory Sunday closure. This means an eligible business can now decide its operating schedule according to customer demand and commercial requirements instead of being required to close on a particular day or at a fixed hour.
The relaxation applies to establishments registered under the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958. Businesses can remain open throughout the year, including Sundays, subject to compliance with the conditions attached to the exemption.
The change, however, should not be interpreted as ending weekly holidays for employees. While the establishment itself can remain open seven days a week, workers must continue to receive the weekly rest and other employment protections required under applicable labour laws.
Businesses operating for extended hours will therefore need to arrange staff through shifts rather than requiring the same employees to work continuously. Wage rules, overtime requirements, working-hour limits, statutory benefits and other employee protections continue to apply.
Special safeguards also remain important where women are employed during night hours. Establishments are required to comply with workplace safety requirements and applicable rules concerning women working in night shifts, including consent and prescribed security arrangements.
Businesses must also comply with laws relating to prevention of workplace sexual harassment and restrictions on child and adolescent labour. The government has made continued compliance with labour and safety requirements a condition for enjoying the extended operating-hours facility.
The decision could particularly benefit restaurants, retail outlets, convenience stores and other businesses located in busy commercial areas where customer activity continues late into the evening. Establishments near transport hubs, hospitals and major urban centres may also choose longer operating hours depending on demand.
For traders, the new system provides flexibility rather than an obligation to operate round the clock. A shop owner can continue following existing business hours if preferred, while those who see commercial demand for late-night or early-morning operations can extend their timings.
The move could also create demand for additional shifts in establishments that choose longer hours. At the same time, employers will remain responsible for ensuring that extended business operations do not result in violations of employee working-hour or welfare provisions.
The government has retained the power to withdraw the exemption from an establishment if prescribed conditions or applicable laws are violated. Businesses could therefore lose the 24x7 facility if they fail to meet employee-safety, wage or other statutory requirements.
The latest relaxation will remain applicable until further orders, giving registered establishments considerable freedom in deciding when to open and close while allowing the government to review the arrangement if necessary.
For consumers, the change could gradually lead to longer shopping and service hours in major Punjab cities. The actual impact will depend on how many businesses choose to use the new flexibility rather than continuing with their traditional schedules.
The key distinction for both traders and employees is that Punjab has removed the compulsory closing requirement for eligible establishments, but it has not removed workers’ rights to rest, wages, safety and other protections under labour law.
For permission to reuse our original reporting or images, contact The Jalandhar Times.
