The Kerala Government has promulgated an Ordinance to give employees the ‘right to sit’, by amending the provisions of Kerala Shops and Establishments Act 1960. The Ordinance titled ‘The Kerala Shops and Establishments(Amendment) Ordinance 2018’ was promulgated by the Governor of Kerala and notified in the Gazette on October 4.It contains a mandatory condition to provide seating arrangements to employees who otherwise have to be on their feet for long hours. Section 21B introduced in the principal Act by the Ordinance states that “in every shop and establishment, suitable arrangements for sitting shall be provided for all workers so as to avoid “on the toes” situation throughout the duty time, so that they may take advantage of any opportunity to sit which may occur in the course of their work”.
