In a move to boost women’s participation in the workforce, the Madhya Pradesh government has permitted women employees to work night shifts across industries, shops, and commercial establishments. This decision, made under the Madhya Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act, 1958, comes with mandatory provisions to ensure their safety and welfare.
The Labour Department has issued comprehensive guidelines to ensure a safe working environment for women between 9 PM and 7 AM. Under the new rules:
- Women must provide written consent before being assigned night shifts. Each shift must have a minimum of five women present, and employers are required to ensure the availability of essential facilities such as toilets, drinking water, and rest areas before starting night operations.
- The workplace must be under continuous CCTV surveillance, and if more than 10 women are on duty during a night shift, the presence of female security personnel is mandatory.
- For women industrial workers, night shifts may run from 8 PM to 6 AM. However, employers must ensure proper pick-up and drop-off facilities for women working during these hours. Additionally, at least one-third of the supervisors on duty during these shifts must be women, and there must be a minimum 12-hour break between consecutive shifts.
- Employers are also required to strictly comply with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
Kailash Agrawal, State Vice President of the Federation Chamber of Commerce, Bhopal, welcomed the government’s decision, emphasizing that ensuring women’s safety must remain a top priority. He stressed the importance of secure transportation and proper arrangements for those working night shifts. Agrawal added that the move would not only benefit shop owners, factory operators, and production units but also provide women and their families with greater financial stability and social support.
