Mumbai: The State government’s delay in notifying changes to the Contract Labour Act has prompted the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) to direct members having less than 10 employees to wait till December first week to renew licenses issued by municipal bodies. The Act was passed by the Legislative Assembly in August and has been approved by the Governor. The deadline for renewing shop licences is December 15.
The State government had amended the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017 for increased ease of doing business. Under the Act, shops and businesses that employ less than 10 people won’t have to register themselves with the government. Viren Shah, president, FRTWA, said, “We have asked all shopkeepers to not pay registration fees to local municipal authorities, and have asked the latter to not harass small shopkeepers for this. We want to know why it’s taking the government so long to enforce the Act. We’ll be meeting the Union Labour Minister to find a solution.”
Once enforced, the Act will replace the old Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 1948, bringing relief to lakhs of small shopkeepers, among others. The deadline for renewing licenses is December 15, failing which shopkeepers will have to pay a penalty. “This should not be required as the law is already passed, and shopkeepers should get the benefits.,” Mr Shah said.
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According to the FRTWA, there are over 30 lakh shopowners who fall under this category. City BJP president Ashish Shelar said, “The Act has been passed and shopkeepers who employ fewer than 10 people need not fear.”