G.1193
Andhra Pradesh permits 24/7 operations for shops in urban local bodies, easing business restrictions while mandating employee safeguards, overtime, weekly offs, and digital labour compliance.
Type
Notified On
Effective From
Status
The Government of Andhra Pradesh, through G.O.Ms.No.5 dated 12 March 2026 under the Andhra Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act, 1988, has introduced a major ease of doing business reform by exempting all shops and commercial establishments located within Urban Local Bodies having populations above 4 lakhs from restrictions under Sections 7(1), 7(2), 15(1), and 15(2), thereby permitting 24/7 business operations throughout the year.
This notification marks a structural shift from time-restricted commercial governance to a continuous operational model, aimed at boosting economic activity, urban commerce, employment generation, and consumer accessibility. The exemption allows round-the-clock functioning while retaining critical employee safeguards, including a maximum of 48 working hours per week, mandatory overtime for excess hours, weekly holidays, compensatory holidays for notified holidays worked, and digital compliance through soft-copy statutory registers.
The reform significantly reduces compliance burdens by recognizing digital records and online employee returns as sufficient, aligning labour administration with modern business practices. Strategically, this notification transforms Andhra Pradesh’s urban retail and commercial ecosystem into a more investment-friendly and consumption-driven environment.
For businesses, the opportunity is substantial—but compliance remains conditional. Employers must align workforce planning, HR systems, payroll structures, and digital reporting mechanisms with statutory labour protections to sustain exemption benefits. Overall, the notification positions Andhra Pradesh as a progressive commercial jurisdiction balancing deregulation with worker welfare.