Hi,

There are 2 aspects to the kind of establishments that you are referring. One could be a family business and the other could be a privately run business where employers hires sales personnel to run his business. In the first case, the employees are mostly family members which will not fall under regular employment.

Now coming to departmental stores and retail shops that are employer based businesses, definitely, the employees are treated as workmen and they have the typical benefits and compensation elements that apply to all other organizations. However, depending the level of management they are hired for decides if the employer wants to choose a permanent employment or contract employment. Generally, entry level and front line people are contract based and the middle and senior level management are permannent hires in such stores.

To end crisply, yes, they definitely are treated as workmen under industrial dispute act.

Soft skills are those skills engaged by a person which are irrespective of his educational qualifications. These come from experience and also to an extent personal traits. Soft skills training is given to employees to enhance their business productivity and create a good impression on the ultimate customer.

Radhika