Women In Delhi Can Now Work In Night Shifts, Govt Puts This Condition For Employers

Women in Delhi will now be able to work in night shifts, and the government has directed the labour department to make necessary changes in the law to allow women to do the same. 

However, the employers can deploy women in night shifts only with their consent. 

Directions were issued during a meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, the officials said, according to a report by The Times of India. The meeting was also attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi Cabinet ministers, and top city bureaucrats.

The meeting was aimed at reviewing the status and progress of various aspects related to the flagship schemes, 'ease of doing business' and 'maximum governance - minimum government'. 

According to the officials, the earlier government in the national capital gave it the nod to do away with Section 66(1)(b) of the Factories Act, 1948. This section lays down that no woman shall be required or allowed to work in any factory except between the hours of 6 am and 7 pm. 

The government also cleared the draft of the Delhi Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules, 2023, which allowed women to work during night shifts. 

The provisions were, however, not implemented on the ground. 

The Delhi L-G said that restrictive and archaic laws, procedures, and regulatory regimes hampered and discouraged businesses and economic activities. 

Delhi CM Gupta and L-G also asserted that progress in the national capital during the last 11 years was "far from satisfactory" and that difficulty in doing business led to a situation where industries and businesses shifted to other states. 

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