Long known for its challenges around women’s safety, Delhi is now taking a significant step to support women working night shifts both legally and securely.
In a landmark move aimed at boosting female workforce participation, the Delhi government has approved legal amendments that, for the first time since 1954, will permit women to work night shifts in shops and commercial establishments.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the decision on Tuesday, describing it as a move toward transforming Delhi into a 24×7 business hub and enhancing women’s participation in the workforce, according to news agency PTI.
To ensure effective implementation, the government has proposed a robust safety framework that includes mandatory transportation, extensive CCTV surveillance, and the presence of female security personnel, among other measures. The initiative is also backed by legal safeguards, such as requiring employee consent and protecting workers from dismissal if they choose not to work night shifts. With this move, Delhi joins the ranks of states like Haryana, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, where women are already permitted to work night shifts. The proposal is now set to be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor for final approval.
At present, Sections 14, 15, and 16 of the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954, restrict women from working between 9 PM and 7 AM in the summer, and between 8 PM and 8 AM in the winter. The proposed amendments aim to lift these restrictions, enabling women to legally work night shifts in retail stores, salons, showrooms, call centres, consultancy services, IT firms, and other commercial establishments covered under the Act.