Q: I am a small-time businessman and have recently opened a small supermarket in Howrah selling a large variety of products. One of the local political leaders has requested me to employ some youths living in slums. I have no objection to that. However, I have heard that there are certain legal restrictions regarding their employment. Could you advise me as to what the law is in this regard? I would also like to know if there are any restrictions on employment of women and children.
Sasanka Munshi
A: To start with, under the West Bengal Shops and Establishments Act, 1963, no child who has not yet completed 12 years is permitted to be employed in any shop or establishment. Second, no young person (defined as a person who has completed 12 years but has not yet completed 15 years) shall be permitted to work in a shop for more than seven hours on any day or for more than 40 hours in any week. The period of work for young persons in a shop during each day will have to be fixed in such a way that the concerned person does not have to work for more than four hours before he has an interval for rest of at least an hour. Further, no young person shall be permitted to work in a shop after 8 pm. It also says that no woman shall be permitted to work in any shop after 8 pm.
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