This Act sets rules for working hours per day and week, guidelines for spread-over, rest interval, opening and closing hours, closed days, national and religious holidays, overtime work, rules for employment of children, young persons, and women, rules for annual leave, maternity leave, sickness and casual leave, rules for employment and termination of service, maintenance of registers and records and display of notices and obligations of employers as well as employees.

Under the Shop and Establishment Act, every business has to seek approval from Department of Labour and keep up-to-date registers regarding details of employment, fines, deductions and advances, salary and holidays. The requirements may vary from state to state. Files related to annual holidays and number of employees need to be submitted to the office of the Municipal Corporation annually.

Every shop and establishment needs to register itself compulsorily under this Act within 30 days of commencement of work. As this is such a basic license, many other licenses require this as proof of a commercial business. For example, most banks will require you to furnish it if you want to open a current account. To get this license, you would need to provide the PAN card of the business owner or the business itself, a copy of the rental agreement or sale deed, and details of all the employees.