Divya Delhi: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's Punjab Cabinet adopted a major change to the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, to reduce compliance obligations on 95% of small firms and make conducting business easier. Today, the Council of Ministers met at the Chief Minister's house and made the decision. The Chief Minister's Office official said this progressive modification will exempt all establishments with up to 20 employees from the Act. This should benefit lakhs of Punjabi shopkeepers. However, such establishments must report relevant information to the Labour Department within six months of the Act taking effect or starting business. The quarterly overtime limit has been raised from 50 to 144 hours to boost employee wages. The daily spread-over work period has been expanded from 10 to 12 hours, including rest breaks. However, overtime pay must be doubled for labor above 9 hours per day or 48 hours per week.