Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): In a bid to promote women’s participation in workforce, the state government has granted special permission for women employees to work night shifts in industries, shops and commercial establishments. The permission has been given under the Madhya Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act, 1958, with several mandatory safety and welfare conditions.
The Labour Department has issued detailed instructions to ensure a secure working environment for women working between 9 PM and 7 AM. The move is being hailed as a significant measure for women empowerment, but is subject to strict compliance by employers.
To deploy women in night shifts, written consent must be obtained from each woman employee. A minimum of five women workers must be on duty in a shift. Employers are also required to ensure essential facilities at the workplace such as toilets, washrooms, drinking water, rest rooms and well-lit, CCTV-monitored premises.
Where more than 10 women are employed during night shifts, employers must provide female security guards. All establishments must also comply with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
For industrial workers, the state has permitted night shifts from 8 PM to 6 AM, provided that employers offer pick-and-drop transportation, ensure that one-third of supervisory staff are women, and maintain a minimum 12-hour gap between shifts for women employees.
