Shop Day and Night!

The approval of Model Shops and Establishment Bill may revive the fortunes of the sluggish landscape of malls and retail stores in the country

- Sujeet Kumar Jha

Good times are surely in the offing for developers of state-of-the-art malls, multiplexes, entertainment destinations and commercial establishments in the country, as Model Shops and Establishment Bill (MSEB), 2016 has been cleared by the Union cabinet.

With the provision of measures such as grant of permission for operating 24×7, 365 days in a year and permission to allow women employees as well during night shift, if necessary amenities and adequate protection of their dignity exist, we are on the verge of witnessing retail transformation in the country. The emerging round-the-clock operations will also generate massive employment opportunities for both skilled as well as unskilled workforce to support the increased business hours in malls, cinemas and shopping destinations.