To regulate the condition of work and employment and therefore to secure maximum benefits to the employees working in different categories of establishment viz. Shops, Commercial Establishments, residential hotels, restaurants, eating houses, theatres and other places of public amusement or entertainments are mainly protected by the provisions of this act.

A state legislation; each state has framed its own rules for the Act.
Applicable to all persons employed in an establishment with or without wages, except the members of the employer's family.

• Compulsory registration of shop/establishment within thirty days of commencement of work.
• The Registration Certificate is generally valid upto the end of the calendar year. It is required to get every Registration Certificate renewed for next calendar year fifteen days before the date of expiry of Registration Certificate.
• Communications of closure of the establishment within 15 days from the closing of the establishment.
• Lays down the hours of work per day and week.
• Lays down guidelines for spread-over, rest interval, opening and closing hours, closed days, national and religious holidays, overtime work.
• Lays down Rules for employment of children, young persons and women; annual leaves, maternity leaves, sickness and casual leaves; employment and termination of service etc
• Maintenance of registers and records and display of notices.
• Lays down the minimum wages to be paid.