The Maharashtra government has allowed shops and various other establishments like movie halls, salons, malls and banks to remain open 24x7, The Times of India reported on Wednesday. Currently, shops are permitted to remain open till 10 pm while commercial establishments can stay open till 9.30 pm and restaurants till 12.30 am.

The state government on Wednesday amended the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Service Condition) Act, 2017. Though the notification includes hotels and restaurants, it excludes those serving liquor and alcohol shops.

“Now, all shops can remain open in three shifts 24X7,” said Maharashtra Labour Minister Sambhaji Nilangekar-Patil. “The move will generate more employment as establishments would need workers in three shifts.” All the employees must get at least one day off in a week, he added.

With this amendment, women can also work night hours, from 9.30 pm to 7 am, as long as the employers get their consent and regulations are followed. “We expect women-driven businesses to get a boost from this move,” Nilangekar-Patil told the Hindustan Times.

The labour minister said Maharashtra was the first state to implement this Act to free shopkeepers from licence inspectors. According to the notification, smaller establishments, or those with less than 10 employees, only have to register with the online authority, and need not get licenses as per the old provisions of the Act. “At least five lakh new licences are estimated to be issued under the act in the near future,” said Nilangekar-Patil.