Women’s consent must to work in night shifts: Govt

Team Herald PORVORIM: The State government informed the House on Thursday that the consent of women would be made mandatory before letting them work in night shifts in different industries. Amidst opposition demands that the Bill seeking an amendment to the Factories and Boilers Act, enabling women to wok during night shifts be referred to the Select Committee, the House passed the amendment by division. The Bill was passed by 26 votes with 5 against. Former Minister for Factories and Boilers and GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai, who was instrumental in introducing the amendment, during his tenure, supported the government and voted in favour of the Bill. NCP MLA Churchill Alemao also supported the Bill, while MGP MLA Sudin Dhavalikar voted against it. Dy CM Chandrakant Kavlekar had moved the amendment to Factories (Goa Amendment) Bill, 2019, for passing on the floor of the House, which faced objection from the opposition benches. Opposition MLAs including Congress’ Pratapsingh Rane, Reginaldo Lourenco, Ravi Naik and Dhavalikar demanded that the Bill be referred to the Select Committee. They raised serious concern about safety of women working at night in the industries and also about the increasing working hours of the male workers. The Bill has proposed to enhance the total hours of male workers from 60 to 72 per week and the total hours of overtime in any quater from 75 to 125 hours. Responding to the apprehensions, Kavlekar said that no women would be forced to work the night shift. He said that several women are not able to get promotions as they are stopped from working for night shifts. “There is ban only in the private industry, but there is no ban in other industries like airport, hospitality and other sectors,” he said. “This Bill gives gender equality to working women. When we talk about women empowerment, we need to actual mean it by implementing it. We should not be controlling their working hours. We need to think with a broad mind,” added the Dy CM. He added that the consent of women will be taken before they are posted for night shifts. “The permission has to be sought from Chief Inspector of Factories and Boilers. No one would be forced to work for night shift,” he stated, while adding that while framing the rules for the act, all precautions could be taken to ensure safety of women. “Also, no single or two women would be allowed to work the night shift. We would specify the minimum number of women for night shift per industry,” said the Quepem MLA. “Maharashtra has already adopted this Bill by putting several conditions. We will be imposing more stringent conditions then Maharashtra,” he added. He said facilities like canteen and pick-up and drop would be provided by their respective company’s management.