The Labour Department of Kerala has notified amendments to the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1960 (“Act”), introducing new mandates for worker welfare and occupational safety in commercial establishments across the State:
Key obligations:
- Employers must provide adequate seating arrangements, drinking water and other basic amenities for security personnel, ensuring protection from extreme weather conditions;
- Authorities will conduct squad inspections, focusing on the security sector, to verify adherence to minimum wage laws, overtime compensation, leave entitlements, and employer registration under the Wage Security Scheme;
- Authorities to sensitize security staff their entitlements, including access to statutory benefits and essential workplace facilities;
- Employers must ensure that security staff in hotels, restaurants, and other highway establishments are equipped with day/night reflective coats, caps, umbrellas, protective canopies, drinking water and UV-protection goggles to mitigate health risks.
Labour Officers and other concerned authorities have been directed to publicize the above-mentioned instructions through print and electronic media and in turn ensure that employers abide by the same.
Please note that this Notification was originally made available in vernacular, and we have translated the same to the best of our understanding. Should an official translation become available, we will update in case there is a requirement.
A copy of the Notification is attached herewith for your ease of reference.
Source: Office of the Labour Commissioner of Kerala
