No weekly closure for Srinagar shops; staff to get weekly off: Traders’ group

Srinagar, October 6: Shops in Srinagar will not be required to remain closed for one day every week, following an understanding reached at a meeting convened by the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Srinagar, on the implementation of weekly holidays and regulation of working hours in shops and establishments.

Under the arrangement, shopkeepers who wish to keep their establishments open throughout the week may do so, provided their salesmen and other employees are given a weekly day off through a properly maintained duty roster specifying the weekly off day of each employee.

The meeting also decided to hold awareness camps in individual markets in the coming days to sensitise traders and employees about applicable provisions governing working hours, weekly offs and other requirements under the Shops and Establishments regulations.

Farhan Kitab, President of the Joint Traders Association (JTA), welcomed what he described as the practical approach adopted by the Labour Department.

“The retail sector has its own working pattern and customer requirements, particularly in the city centre. We appreciate that the concerns of traders have been taken into consideration. The roster system will ensure that employees receive their weekly rest while allowing shopkeepers who wish to keep their establishments open to continue their business operations,” Kitab said.

He said the JTA would extend full cooperation to the Labour Department in conducting awareness programmes across markets and ensuring that traders understand and comply with the applicable provisions.

The Joint Traders Association is an amalgam of 14 markets in Srinagar city centre and represents the collective interests of traders in the central business areas.