HYDERABAD: A proposal to keep shops and business establishments open beyond their regular working hours post the lockdown is under active consideration. The proposal, being mulled by the labour department, may benefit both shopkeepers and consumers.
“We have made this proposal as the lockdown may end on May 29 across Telangana, including the city. The Madhya Pradesh government has already started implementing a similar proposal for shops and business establishments in that state. On similar lines, we have proposed to implement the extended work hour proposal in the twin cities,” joint commissioner of labour (JCL), Hyderabad and Secunderabad, E Gangadhar told TOI.
According to the labour department’s official records, there were 1.20 lakh shops and business establishments, including small, medium and major units across Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The labour department used to issue licences as per the stipulated time.
“Over 90% of shops and business establishments have licences to operate their businesses even on Sundays, national holidays and even nighttimes, particularly during festival seasons. It may help these shops recoup the losses once the government extends working hours,” he said.
Labour officials, however, suggested certain measures like maintaining social distancing norms, sanitisation of premises and wearing masks, both by shopkeepers and consumers.
Regarding social distancing norm, every shop and business establishment has to mark blocks at sales/cash counter and goods delivery counter. In fact, shopkeepers have to reduce their staff to ensure better physical distancing norm, the labour official said.
Sanitisation is another major component which shopkeepers have to follow. They could either arrange sanitisation tunnels or place sanitisers at the entrance for consumers, he said. The shopkeepers have to ensure wearing of masks by both employees and consumers. Wearing of hand gloves too has been suggested, JCL, Gangadhar said.
The labour department would issue a notification once the government approves the proposal, he added.
“We have made this proposal as the lockdown may end on May 29 across Telangana, including the city. The Madhya Pradesh government has already started implementing a similar proposal for shops and business establishments in that state. On similar lines, we have proposed to implement the extended work hour proposal in the twin cities,” joint commissioner of labour (JCL), Hyderabad and Secunderabad, E Gangadhar told TOI.
According to the labour department’s official records, there were 1.20 lakh shops and business establishments, including small, medium and major units across Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The labour department used to issue licences as per the stipulated time.
“Over 90% of shops and business establishments have licences to operate their businesses even on Sundays, national holidays and even nighttimes, particularly during festival seasons. It may help these shops recoup the losses once the government extends working hours,” he said.
Labour officials, however, suggested certain measures like maintaining social distancing norms, sanitisation of premises and wearing masks, both by shopkeepers and consumers.
Regarding social distancing norm, every shop and business establishment has to mark blocks at sales/cash counter and goods delivery counter. In fact, shopkeepers have to reduce their staff to ensure better physical distancing norm, the labour official said.
Sanitisation is another major component which shopkeepers have to follow. They could either arrange sanitisation tunnels or place sanitisers at the entrance for consumers, he said. The shopkeepers have to ensure wearing of masks by both employees and consumers. Wearing of hand gloves too has been suggested, JCL, Gangadhar said.
The labour department would issue a notification once the government approves the proposal, he added.
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