Shops (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1938

Employment in spells.

21.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act relating to intervals for meals, the hours of employment of a member of the staff of a shop (other than a refreshment house or a railway bookstall on or adjoining a railway platform) shall not on any date be divided into more than two spells, and the period between any such spells shall not be less than four hours in duration.

(2) The Minister may, whenever and so often as he thinks fit, by order under this sub-section amend in respect of shops (other than refreshment houses or railway bookstalls on or adjoining railway platforms) of a specified class (defined in such manner and by reference to such things as the Minister thinks proper) in a specified area the provisions of sub-section (1) of this section relating to the number of spells into which the hours of employment of a member of the staff of a shop may be divided on any day, and the provisions of the said sub-section relating to the duration of the period between spells, or both such provisions, and in that case so long as such order remains in force the said sub-section shall have effect in respect of such shops subject to such amendment.

(3) The Minister may by order under this sub-section amend or revoke any order made under this section (including this sub-section).

(4) If in respect of any member of the staff of a shop there is a contravention of this section, the proprietor of such shop shall be guilty of an offence under this section.