19.2.16

Maharashtra Retail Trade Policy

Businessmen hailed Maharashtra's maiden retail policy , expecting it would pave the way for hassle-free trade.
The Maharashtra Retail Trade Policy would give significant relaxations to retailers under the Shops and Establishment Act. The draft policy entails that retail establishments would be allowed to operate 24x7 and conduct retail operations from 5 am to 11 pm. Logistics and supply chain operations could conducted from 11 pm to 5 am.
Maharashtra is the second state after Andhra Pradesh to have a retail policy . Retailers claimed that the policy might pave the way for the retail business to get an industry status, pending for some time.
The policy has special consideration for SME retailers.It gives smaller players the facility of online registration.Special emphasis has been laid on skill development for retail sector employees and simplification of labour laws.
The Retailers' Association of India (RAI) mentioned that while RAI had been wor king with the Government of Maharashtra to create a retail policy for the state, the government had promised they would soon develop operating guidelines.
The association said, with this, the government implied that they were viewing retail finally as an important sector.

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