The Puducherry Shops and Establishments Act, 1964 and its accompanying Rules apply to all shops and commercial establishments across the Union Territory of Puducherry. The Act protects employees’ rights by regulating wage payment, terms of service, work hours, rest intervals, overtime, opening and closing hours, closed days, holidays, leave (including maternity leave and benefits), working conditions, the employment of children, and record-keeping.
Key Definitions
Commercial establishment means an establishment other than a shop that carries on the business of advertising, commission, forwarding, or commercial agency, or that operates as a clerical department of a factory or industrial undertaking, or that is an insurance company, joint stock company, bank, brokers’ office, or exchange. It also includes any other establishment the Government notifies as a commercial establishment.
Establishment means a shop, commercial establishment, theatre, or any place of public amusement or entertainment, along with any other premises the Government notifies as an establishment.
Shop means any premises where a trade or business operates, or where services are rendered to customers — including offices, storerooms, godowns, and warehouses connected to that business, whether on the same premises or elsewhere. It excludes commercial establishments.
Registration
- Every employer must send the Inspector a statement, in the prescribed form and with the prescribed fees, within the period set out below.
- On receiving the statement and fees, and once satisfied it’s correct, the Inspector registers the establishment in the register of shops and establishments and issues the employer a registration certificate in the prescribed form. This certificate must be displayed prominently at the establishment.
- Employers of shops and establishments already operating when the Act commences have thirty days from that date to send the statement; new shops and establishments have thirty days from the date they start work.
- The registration certificate is valid for a financial year and must be renewed each year, on payment of the prescribed fee. Employers can instead opt to pay upfront for initial registration or renewal covering up to three consecutive financial years, by making a specific request in the prescribed form stating the number of years sought. In that case, the fee is the annual rate multiplied by the number of years covered.
Compliances
- Compliance details follow the Puducherry Shops and Establishments Rules
- Annual Filing and Returns