The State government issued a notification outlining criteria to provide a safe working environment for women during the restricted hours, including free transportation to and from their homes as well as food.
No woman worker shall be forced to work without her written consent before 6 a.m. or after 7 p.m., and she shall not be fired if she refuses to work during these hours, according to the Uttar Pradesh government.
In the public interest, the government issued a notification exempting manufacturers from the limits imposed by Section 66 of the Factories Act, subject to certain circumstances.
Aside from the work-hour restrictions, the notification lays out criteria to maintain a safe working environment for women during such hours, including free transportation to and from their homes and food.
Additionally, the employer is required to provide amenities such as restrooms, locker rooms, drinking fountains, and lighting near the worksite.
Employers were specifically instructed to take precautions to prevent sexual harassment of women working in factories, both by establishing redress systems and informing them of their rights.
The warning further said that if factories violated the set restrictions, their authorization would be promptly revoked.
The conditions set forth in the notification are as follows:
- No woman worker shall be obligated to work before 6:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. without her written approval.
- No woman’s employment shall be terminated if she refuses to work between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
- Women workers who work between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. are entitled to free transportation from their homes to the plant and back.
- The factory’s employer must give food to women workers who work between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
- Women who work between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. must be adequately supervised during their working hours and travel.ttar
- The employer is responsible for providing toilets, washrooms, changing rooms, drinking facilities, and adequate lighting near the workplace.
- Between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., not less than four women workers must be allowed to work on the premises or in a specific department.
- The employer shall notify the for verification, giving him a maximum of seven days to complete the verification.
- The employer shall send a monthly report to the Inspector of factories in the concerned region, either electronically or otherwise, detailing the details of women workers employed during the night shift, as well as an express report whenever there is an untoward incident to the Inspector of factories in the concerned region and the local Police Station.
- Factory inspectors are responsible for enforcing safe working conditions for women and keeping close track of non-compliance during their inspections.
- The employer must take reasonable measures to prevent sexual harassment. The employer must have a complaint procedure in place at the factory, as required by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redress) Act, 2013 or any other relevant legislation.
- Women workers must be made aware of their rights, in particular, by publicly displaying the guideline, if necessary.
