Women to be allowed to work in night shifts in all sectors: FM Sitharaman

New Delhi: Presenting the Union Budget 2021, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday, 1 February, announced that women will be allowed to work in all sectors and in night shifts, with adequate safety. She added that social security benefits will be extended to gig and platform workers.

However, women being allowed to work in night shifts was already notified by the Centre as a part of Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (Central) Rules, 2020, which are likely to be implemented from 1 April.

According to the rules, following conditions shall be met for employment of women during night time or before 6 am, and beyond 7 pm in any day, namely:

The consent of women employee shall be taken

No women shall be employed against the maternity benefit provisions laid down under the Social Security Code, 2020 (36 f 2020)

Adequate transportation facilities shall be provided to women employees – to pick-up and drop such employee at her residence

The workplace including passage towards conveniences or facilities concerning toilet, washrooms, drinking water, entry and exit of women employee should be well-lit

The toilet, washroom and drinking facilities should be near the workplace where such women employee are employed

Provide safe, secure and healthy working conditions such that no women employee is disadvantaged in connection with her employment

In case of below ground mine, not less than three women employees shall be on duty at any place

The provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (14 of 2013), as applicable to the establishments, shall be complied with

Sitharaman announced Rs 1,000 crore scheme for tea workers – especially for women and children in Assam and West Bengal.

The finance minister also added that Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which provided LPG connections to women of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, will be extended by one crore in the coming year.