UP government permits night shifts for women with safeguards, double pay

In a decision aimed at empowering working women the Uttar Pradesh government has allowed women employees to undertake night shifts after submitting written consent while mandating strict safety and welfare measures at every level from home to workplace officials said on Wednesday reported news agency PTIThe new provision came into force after President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Uttar Pradesh Factories Amendment Act in the first week of October after which a gazette notification was issued in his regard according to a statement issued by the chief minister officeAccording to the statement under the new provision women can now work between 7 pm and 6 am only after providing written consent which must be registered with the labour department reported PTIEmployers have been directed to ensure transportation health facilities CCTV surveillance and deployment of security personnel for women working during night hours it saidThe move it said is intended to enhance womens confidence and participation in the industrial and corporate sectorsThe government has also increased the permissible overtime for women from 75 hours to 144 hours per quarter with payment at double the normal wage rateThis is not just an administrative decision but a strong step toward gender equality and womens safety a senior labour department official said reported PTIThe decision enables women to work up to six hours at a stretch without an interval and opens opportunities for them even in hazardous industrial categoriesPreviously women were allowed to work in only 12 such categories but now the number has been expanded to all 29 hazardous sectors officials saidTo ensure transparency and safety industries have been asked to adopt digital monitoring systems and appoint safety officers to oversee womens security during night shiftsWith nearly 36 per cent of the states workforce comprising women the government expects the measure to further increase female participation across sectors the statement said reported PTIMore than one crore women are already associated with selfhelp groups in the state contributing to household income and local industry it saidThe government has also reinforced womens safety infrastructure through initiatives such as the 1090 Women Power Line 112 Helpline 1694 AntiRomeo squads and more than 9000 dedicated women police beats under the Safe City Project reported PTIAccording to the statement Uttar Pradesh currently has the highest conviction rate in crimes against women 71 per cent compared to the national average of 18 percent underscoring the states zerotolerance approach to genderbased crimesOfficials said the latest labour reforms align with the governments broader vision of industrial modernisation gender equality and womenled growthWith inputs from PTI