Eating out at late night in Mumbai restaurants soon to be a reality

Your late night dinner date or odd hour shopping may soon turn out to be a reality in Mumbai if a new bill put down by Maharashtra government gets a green signal

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Your late night dinner date or odd hour shopping may soon turn out to be a reality in Mumbai if a new bill put down by Maharashtra government gets a nod.

According to a report by Times of India, the bill put down in the assembly is applicable to restaurants, hotels, entertainment joints, shops and theatres. The Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Bill 2017 will allow all such units to stay open seven days a week and schedule their own operational hours. Keeping adequate safety measures and consent of female employees in mind, the bill will also women to work in night shifts between 9:30 pm and 7:00 am. However, the bill ensures that workers will not be allowed to work beyond nine hours a day.

According to the bill, workers of restaurants that will be operational seven days a week will get a weekly holiday. Apart from this, workers will also be granted maternity leave, paid leaves and other benefits like crèche and cafeteria.

Referring to the bill, a government official was quoted saying to the publication, "It will cut red tape and boost employment. Small shopkeepers were needlessly subjected to inspections. Now inspectors will be able to focus on large establishments."

Viren Shah, president, Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association told to the publication, “We have been asking for liberal working hours for a long time. Malls especially should have the option of staying open at night. This reform will also free small shopkeepers from corruption and harassment faced at the hands of inspectors.”

The bill is expected to create new jobs and bring in transparency to the system. Those employers how will violate the law will be imposed a fine of up to Rs. 1 lakh. If the bill gets a green signal, then your desire for late night shopping, dining or watching a movie will come true

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