The Shop and Establishment Act is applicable nationwide, and all the commercial establishments.
The definition of a ‘Commercial Establishment’, as given in the Act is:
- Any commercial sector, such as banking, trading or insurance establishments
- Any establishment where individuals are employed or engaged to do office work or provide service
- The hotels, eateries and boarding houses or a smaller café or refreshment house
- Amusement and entertainment places such as theatres and cinema halls or amusement parks
All such above mentioned commercial establishments come under the Act and need to adhere to the norms and regulations set by the Act for the treatment of their employees.
The exceptions to the Act vary in the States and each State has given a list of shops and establishments act that come into the Act, and who require the registrations under the Act to run their business in the State.