Daijiworld Media Network - Jaipur
Jaipur, Oct 27: The Rajasthan government has approved the Rajasthan Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, prohibiting the employment of children below 14 years of age in shops and commercial establishments.
The decision, approved by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, aims to strengthen child welfare, ensure access to education and healthcare for minors, and align state labour laws with national compliance and safety standards.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the amendments seek to balance business facilitation with worker protection, in line with the Union government’s Compliance Reduction and Deregulation Docket.
Under the new provisions, children under 14 years will no longer be permitted to work in any commercial establishment. The minimum age for apprentices has also been revised from 12 to 14 years.
To safeguard young workers, the ordinance introduces a night work restriction for adolescents aged between 14 and 18 years, prohibiting them from working during night hours.
The amendment also increases maximum daily working hours from 9 to 10 hours and raises the quarterly overtime limit from 120 to 144 hours, aimed at improving productivity while maintaining worker welfare and health standards.
The previous Rajasthan Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, had permitted adolescents aged 12–15 years to work up to three hours daily — a provision now replaced to reflect contemporary welfare and educational priorities.
Additionally, the Chief Minister approved amendments to the Rajasthan Factories Rules, expanding opportunities for women’s employment while enhancing workplace safety and privacy.
Under these rules, women (excluding pregnant or lactating workers) may now be employed in designated factory operations. Employers are required to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, face shields, gloves, and heat shields, ensure safety training, and maintain air quality standards at workplaces.
Officials said the updated ordinances reinforce the state’s commitment to gender inclusion, worker protection, and ease of doing business, while aligning Rajasthan’s labour regulations with ongoing national labour reforms.