The Odisha Cabinet today approved two proposals of the Labour and Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Department to amend existing Acts to improve Ease of Doing Business.
Briefing the media today following the state Cabinet meeting, CM Mohan Charan Majhi said the government has decided to make necessary amendments to the Factories Act, 1948 and the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1956.
According to the cabinet decision, commercial units that now engage 20 or more employees will have to register under the Shops and Commercial Establishments Act.
With this, the daily working hours have been enhanced from 9 hours to 10 hours, with a minimum rest interval of half an hour within a six-hour period, an official statement said.
The prohibition on engagement of women employees during night has been removed. Women can now be engaged during the night shift with their written consent and subject to state government-notified conditions concerning safety, security, and dignity, the statement said.
Employees working more than 10 hours daily or over 48 hours weekly in an establishment will be entitled to double the ordinary rate of wages, the statement read.
ରାଜ୍ୟ କ୍ୟାବିନେଟର ୨୭ତମ ବୈଠକ ମାନ୍ୟବର ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha ଙ୍କ ଅଧ୍ୟକ୍ଷତାରେ ଲୋକସେବା ଭବନ ସମ୍ମିଳନୀ କକ୍ଷରେ ଅନୁଷ୍ଠିତ ହୋଇଛି। ଏହି ବୈଠକରେ @PWD_Odisha ର ଗୋଟିଏ, @SMEOdisha
ର ଗୋଟିଏ ଏବଂ @LESIOdisha ର ଦୁଇଟି, ଏହିଭଳି ମୋଟ ୪ଟି ପ୍ରସ୍ତାବ ଆଲୋଚନା ପୂର୍ବକ ଅନୁମୋଦିତ ହୋଇଛି। pic.twitter.com/D6zwAMuZxF— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) September 29, 2025
The CM stated these reforms will reduce the compliance burden on small businesses, boost entrepreneurship, and create more economic activity while safeguarding employee welfare, enhancing earnings via overtime, and promoting higher work participation opportunities for women in the organized and corporate sectors.
On Thursday, CM Majhi participated in a cleanliness drive at the Lingaraj Temple as part of the ‘Swachhotsav, Swachhata Hi Seva’ campaign.
He was joined by Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mohapatra, Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das, and senior party leaders during the initiative.
In addition, CM Majhi planted a sapling at the temple premises under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, emphasising environmental conservation and cleanliness.
The ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign was launched by PM Modi on World Environment Day, June 5, 2024, with the planting of a Peepal tree at Buddha Jayanti Park in Delhi. The initiative combines environmental responsibility with a tribute to mothers.
PM Modi emphasised the importance of collective efforts to improve the environment and spoke of India’s strides in increasing forest cover over the past decade, noting that the campaign aligns with the nation’s pursuit of sustainable development.
