Odisha women night shift policy: The Odisha government has taken a big step to help more women get jobs and make it easier for companies to run their business. Now, women in Odisha can work at night in shops and other workplaces, but only if their safety is fully taken care of.
The Labour and ESI Department of the state shared this decision through a new notice. It clearly says that women can be on night duty only if the place they work at follows all the safety rules. These rules are there to make sure women feel safe, respected, and comfortable during late hours.
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The government said that companies must take care of security in a serious way. Every place where women will work at night must have basic things like proper transport, clean restrooms, and guards.
According to ETV Bharat, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, who is the Labour Minister of Odisha, talked to the media and shared the reason behind this decision. He said, “Letters have been sent to different states by Centre. In Odisha, our focus is on reducing the gender gap and empowering women. This is why night shifts have been allowed, but only with their written consent. Every institution must have an internal grievance committee, and the government is committed to ensuring the social security of women.”
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Odisha women night shift policy
- The consent of women employees willing to work at night shall be taken in writing.
- There shall be at least three women employees, which may include onsite woman employer, if any.
- Adequate transportation facilities with GPS tracking system to pick-up and drop women employees at or near their residence shall be provided.
- The establishment shall obtain Bio-data and Police verification of each driver of the night transportation vehicle, whether employed directly or through service provider.
- The employer shall provide toilet or washroom and drinking water facilities near the work place where such women employees are employed, with provisions of closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance and proper lighting including the passages towards conveniences.
- Dedicated telephone numbers of the establishment along with Government Toll-free Helpline number for Women (181) and Labour & ESI Department Helpline number 18003456703 shall be displayed prominently and conspicuously at the establishment and inside vehicles used for transportation of workers.
- The employer shall ensure that there shall not be less than eight consecutive hours of rest between the last shift and the night shift, whenever the duty of a woman employee is changed from day shift to night shift and vice versa.
- The provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (14 of 2023), as applicable to the establishment, shall be complied with.
- Any Employer engaging women employees during night, shall submit a Self certification in the prescribed proforma, electronically, in the designated portal of the Department, that he/she has provided all the facilities as mentioned in this Notification and shall take due care and diligence regarding the safety, security and dignity of women employees.
- No adolescent shall be allowed to work whether as an employee or otherwise in any establishment during night.
- If any establishment fails to comply with the above conditions, it shall be liable for penalty under section 35 of the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1956.
