Tamil Nadu extends 365-day shop opening with worker protections for three years

The Tamil Nadu government issued a notification on August 24, 2026, extending the permission for all shops and establishments to remain open on all 365 days of the year for a further three years. The exemption, granted under the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947, comes with strict employee safeguards.

Employers must provide workers one weekly holiday on rotation, ensure wages and overtime are credited directly to bank accounts, and limit working hours to 8 per day or 48 per week. Women employees cannot ordinarily work beyond 8:00 PM and require written consent for night shifts, along with transport facilities and safety provisions.

Establishments must display employee details and holiday schedules, provide basic amenities including restrooms and safety lockers, and constitute Internal Complaints Committees for sexual harassment prevention. Non-compliance may attract penal action under the Act.