Shop & Establishment Compliance: Registers, Returns and Changes
Getting your shop registration is day one. After that come registers, appointment letters, on-time wages, change reports and the yearly labour welfare fund. We run that ongoing compliance for shops and offices in Haryana, Delhi and across India.
What it is
Shop and establishment compliance is what a shop, office, showroom or restaurant must keep doing after it registers under the state’s shops and establishments law. It covers working hours and weekly holidays, wage records, appointment letters, leave, notices on display, reporting of changes and closure, and the yearly labour welfare fund deposit.
If you have not registered yet, start with our shop and establishment registration service. This page is about what comes next. In Haryana, the governing law is the Haryana Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, as amended by the Amendment Act, 2025 in force from 12 November 2025. In Delhi it is the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954. Since 21 November 2025, the four Labour Codes also apply on top of the state law.
Who it applies to
Establishments with 20 or more workers in Haryana
The full Haryana Act applies: registration under Section 13, reporting of changes and closure, and the rules on hours, holidays, leave and wages.
Smaller units in Haryana
Establishments with fewer than 20 workers only file an online intimation under Section 13A and get a Basic Information Performa ID. The Labour Codes and labour welfare fund rules still reach many of them.
Shops and offices in Delhi and other states
Delhi establishments register under the 1954 Act and keep its records. Other states have their own Act, thresholds and portal.
Why it matters
Shop and establishment compliance keeps inspections routine
When an inspector-cum-facilitator visits, complete registers and displayed notices close the visit quickly. Missing records turn a visit into a notice.
Disputes are easier to defend
Say a salesperson leaves and claims six months of unpaid overtime. That claim is decided on records. Signed appointment letters, attendance sheets and wage slips are your only real evidence.
Banks and landlords ask for it
A registration that matches your real address, headcount and owners keeps bank KYC and tenders moving.
Documents required
Registration records
- Registration certificate or Section 13A intimation ID
- Login for hrylabour.gov.in or labour.delhi.gov.in
- Proof of possession of premises (rent deed or ownership)
Employee records
- Employee list with joining dates, designations and wages
- Appointment letters, with photograph and ID card in Haryana
- Attendance, overtime and leave data
Payroll and statutory
- Monthly salary sheets and payment proofs
- PF, ESI and labour welfare fund codes, if applicable
- Details of any change in owner, manager, address or business
Your compliance calendar at a glance
| Task | When | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Pay monthly wages | Before the 7th of the next month | Code on Wages, Section 17 |
| Pay final dues on exit | Within two working days of resignation, removal or dismissal | Code on Wages, Section 17(2) |
| Issue appointment letter | At joining | Labour Codes; Haryana Act |
| Report change in particulars (Haryana) | Within 7 days | Haryana Act, Section 13 |
| Report closure (Haryana) | Within 30 days | Haryana Act, Section 13 |
| Deposit Haryana labour welfare fund | By 31 December | Punjab Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1965 (as applied in Haryana) |
| PF and ESI contributions | By the 15th of the next month | EPF and ESI schemes |
Here is the catch. Problems rarely come from the monthly routine. They start when a business crosses 20 workers, moves premises or changes partners, and nobody updates the record. Picture a Faridabad garment showroom that hires its twenty-first salesperson before Diwali. It now needs full registration under Section 13, not just the Section 13A intimation it filed years ago.
How it works
Map what you have against the law
We review your shop and establishment compliance: registration, headcount, premises and records. Then we list the gaps against the state Act and the Labour Codes.
Set up registers and letters
We prepare formats for attendance, wages, leave and overtime, and draft appointment letters that carry the details the Codes require.
File changes on the portal
Change of address, manager, ownership or nature of business is updated on the state labour portal within the deadline. In Haryana, an amended certificate carries no fee.
Track monthly and yearly dues
We send reminders for wages, PF, ESI and labour welfare fund, and keep proof of each payment in one place. If you also want salaries processed, our payroll compliance team can take that on.
Get inspection-ready
We check records and displayed notices before an inspection and draft your reply to any notice that follows.
Timelines
Every month
Wages before the 7th of the following month. PF and ESI contributions by the 15th, where you are covered.
On any change
Haryana: report changes within 7 days and closure within 30 days. Delhi: update the registration on the labour department portal when particulars change; check the current time limit there.
Every year
Haryana labour welfare fund by 31 December: 0.2% of wages from the employee, capped at ₹35, and twice that from the employer, up to ₹70, from 1 January 2026.
What happens if you fall behind
Fines under the Haryana Act
₹3,000 to ₹10,000 for a first violation, ₹5,000 to ₹25,000 for a second, and ₹500 a day while a violation continues.
Interest on welfare fund
A late Haryana labour welfare fund deposit attracts interest at 12% a year, on top of the contribution itself.
Claims and wage orders
Wages paid late or short can lead to claims under the Code on Wages. Without records, you struggle to prove what was paid.
Frequently asked questions
Does a shop registration in Haryana need renewal?
No, Haryana does not require periodic renewal. The state removed renewal for all establishments in 2018, and under the amended Section 13 the certificate stays valid until it is amended, cancelled on closure or revoked. What you must do is report changes within 7 days and closure within 30 days on hrylabour.gov.in. Keep the record current and the certificate keeps working for you.
We have only 8 staff in Faridabad. Does any of this apply to us?
Yes, though the registration part is lighter. With fewer than 20 workers you file an online intimation under Section 13A instead of full registration. You still need to pay wages on time under the Code on Wages and issue appointment letters. Shops with 10 or more employees are also covered by the Haryana labour welfare fund. A short monthly routine covers all of it.
What changed with the Labour Codes from 21 November 2025?
Four Labour Codes replaced 29 older central labour laws from 21 November 2025. For shops and offices the visible changes are mandatory appointment letters, fixed wage payment deadlines, a wider definition of wages and inspector-cum-facilitators. The state shops Act still applies alongside. Existing rules continue until the new state rules are notified, so you can switch over in stages.
What must an appointment letter contain now?
It should state the designation, skill category, nature of employment, wages, date of joining and social security details. That is the list in the OSH (Central) Rules, 2026, notified on 8 May 2026, and state rules follow the same idea. Haryana’s amended shops Act also asks for a photograph on the letter and an identity card. We give you a template that covers both.
By when must salaries be paid?
Monthly wages must be paid before the end of the 7th day of the following month under Section 17 of the Code on Wages, 2019. An employee who resigns, is removed or is dismissed must be paid within two working days. Weekly and daily wage periods have shorter limits. In practice, fix your payroll date on the 1st or 2nd and you will never cut it close.
What do we report when we shift our office?
In Haryana, a change of address, employer, manager, headcount band or nature of business must be reported online within 7 days, and the amended certificate is issued without a fee. Closure must be reported within 30 days. Moving to another state needs a fresh registration there. We file the update and keep the acknowledgement on your file.
How much is the Haryana labour welfare fund?
From 1 January 2026, the employee pays 0.2% of wages, capped at ₹35, and the employer pays twice the employee share, up to ₹70. The yearly deposit is due by 31 December, with an optional monthly online deposit. Late payment carries interest at 12% a year. For a small team the amount is small, and paying on time keeps the interest at zero.
Do we need a separate registration under the OSH Code as well?
Not twice. Haryana’s notification of 4 May 2026 exempts establishments registered under Section 3 of the OSH Code from separate shops Act registration, once Haryana’s OSH rules are finalised. Haryana’s rules were still in draft at our last check in mid-2026. Until they are final, keep your shops registration current. We track the change for you.
Is Delhi different from Haryana?
Yes. Delhi follows the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954, with registration on labour.delhi.gov.in. Thresholds and renewal rules there have been changing, so check the current position on that portal before you rely on any older advice. We apply whichever rule is in force on the day and tell you what to file.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
In Haryana, an amended certificate carries no government fee. Welfare fund contributions go straight to the board.
Ready to begin?
Send us your registration certificate and staff list, and we will tell you exactly what your establishment is missing.