Government of Haryana promulgated this Ordinance under Article 213 of the Constitution as the State Legislature was not in session. The amendment restructures applicability thresholds, enhances working hour limits, introduces differentiated compliance for establishments based on workforce size, strengthens digital registration and intimation mechanisms, and revises the penalty framework under the Act.

The applicability of the Act has been bifurcated based on workforce strength. All provisions of the Act, except section 13A, now apply to shops and establishments employing twenty or more workers, while section 13A applies to establishments employing less than twenty workers.

Daily working hours under section 7 have been increased from nine hours to ten hours, and the permissible spread-over limit has been enhanced by substituting “fifty” with “one hundred fifty-six”. Under section 8, the continuous working limit without rest has been increased from five hours to six hours.

Section 13 has been substituted to mandate online registration for establishments employing twenty or more workers within one month of commencement, including disclosure of employer details, GPS-based address, workforce strength, and nature of business. Registration certificates are now valid until amendment, cancellation on closure, or revocation. Employers must intimate any change in particulars within seven days, and closure within thirty days. A graded penalty structure has been introduced for non-compliance.

A new section 13A requires establishments employing less than twenty workers to submit online intimation within one month of commencement, upon which a Basic Information Performa ID Number shall be issued.

Section 19 has been aligned with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, replacing the reference to the Indian Penal Code. Penalties under section 20 have been rationalised, including daily penalties for continuing contraventions and enhanced penalties for false entries or omissions in records.

Two new obligations have been inserted through sections 20A and 20B, mandating issuance of appointment letters with employee photographs and identity cards to all workers.

Sections 21 and 26 have been substituted to provide uniform, escalated penalties, including daily penalties for continuous violations where no specific penalty is otherwise provided.