The Government of Puducherry — exercising powers under Section 6 of the Puducherry Shops and Establishments Act, 1964 — has issued a new order allowing shops and establishments employing 50 or more persons to operate 24×7, all days of the year. This supersedes the earlier order dated October 27, 2022 (G.O. Ms. No. 16). The change permits extended business hours while embedding safeguards for employees, including for women working night shifts.

• Work Hours & Employee Safeguards

• • One day off per week must be granted to every employee on a rotational basis, with details recorded in Form IX (Puducherry Shops & Establishments Rules, 1964) and publicly displayed in the workplace.
  • Employers must display daily leave/holiday rosters in a conspicuous place.
  • All wages, including overtime, must be directly deposited into the employee’s savings bank account.
  • Strict action will be taken if any employee works beyond normal hours or on a holiday without valid overtime instructions.

• Night-Shift Employment for Women (8 p.m. – 6 a.m.)
  • Women may now be employed in night shifts, subject to these mandatory conditions:
  • Written consent from the female employee.
  • She must not be eligible for maternity benefits under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
  • The workplace and access routes (toilets, washrooms, drinking water, entries/exits) must be adequately lit (natural or artificial), per Section 17 of the Factories Act, 1948.
  • Toilet, washroom, and drinking facilities must be available within the premises.
  • CCTV cameras must be installed for security.
  • Compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 is mandatory.