Kerala Shops & Commercial Establishments Act 1960: Complete Employer Guide
Everything Kerala employers, IT startups, retail chains, and service businesses need to know about registration, Form B, mandatory registers, leave rules, and surviving Labour Department inspections.
1. Applicability & Online Registration (Form B)
The Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1960 applies to all shops, commercial offices, IT/ITeS companies, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment centres across Kerala. Every employer must submit an application for registration within 60 days of commencing commercial operations.
Registration is managed 100% online through the Kerala Labour Commissionerate portal (LCAS — Labour Commissionerate Automation System at lcas.labour.kerala.gov.in or K-SWIFT single window).
📌 The Form B Certificate
Upon approval and payment of government fees (scaled based on total headcount), the Assistant Labour Officer (ALO) issues the Registration Certificate in Form B. This certificate must be framed and displayed prominently at the entrance of your establishment.
2. Mandatory Statutory Registers Required Under Kerala Law
During a routine or surprise inspection by the Assistant Labour Officer, failure to produce the following bound or digitally maintained registers is an immediate penal offense:
| Register Name | Prescribed Form | Required Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Register of Employment | Form B / Form BA | Employee names, designation, age, daily in/out attendance, interval timings, weekly off day |
| Register of Wages | Form C | Basic wages, DA, allowances, overtime hours, deductions (EPF, ESIC, PT, advances), net pay signature/acknowledgment |
| Register of Leave with Wages | Form F | Record of earned privilege leaves, casual leaves, sick leaves accrued, availed, and balance |
| Notice of Daily Hours of Work | Form D | Displayed notice showing operating hours and employee shift schedules |
| Inspection Book | Standard Bound Book | Maintained for the Labour Inspector to record remarks, inspection findings, and directives |
3. Working Hours, Spread-Over & Overtime Rules
| Parameter | Statutory Provision Under Kerala Act |
|---|---|
| Maximum Daily Hours | 8 hours per day (exclusive of intervals) |
| Maximum Weekly Hours | 48 hours per week |
| Rest Interval | At least 1 hour of rest after continuous work of 4 hours |
| Spread-Over Limit | Total period of work including rest interval cannot exceed 10.5 hours on any day |
| Overtime Compensation | Wages at double the normal rate of wages for any work exceeding 8 hrs/day or 48 hrs/week |
| Weekly Holiday | 1 full day off in every week with wages |
4. Leave Entitlements Under Kerala Law
Every employee completing 12 months of continuous service in a Kerala commercial establishment is entitled to:
- Annual Leave with Wages: 12 days for every 12 months of service.
- Sick Leave: 12 days per year on medical grounds with wages.
- Casual Leave: 12 days per year for unforeseen circumstances with wages.
- Festival Holidays: 13 paid festival and national holidays under the Kerala Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays) Act 1958.
Download the Kerala Shops Act Compliance Checklist & Register Templates
Get ready-to-use Form B, Form F leave register, and Form C wage register formats formatted to satisfy Assistant Labour Officer inspections in Kerala.
5. Need Professional Labour Compliance Support in Kerala?
Whether you need fresh Form B registration, annual online renewal, register digitisation, or legal representation before the Labour Officer, FOGS Consultants provides complete turnkey coverage across all 14 districts of Kerala.