Dy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai said that flexible hours of work are indispensible to maintain the pace of production and in modern times, there cannot be discrimination against female workers as far as job opportunities are concerned. Any specific provision restricting the employment of women at night has a deterrent effect on employment of women, he said.
While many have raised eyebrows on the security of women after the cabinet decision, there is need to also appreciate that instead of discouraging women from working the night shift, the work environment and safety measures for them should be improved. Women working the night shift will provide equal opportunities to men and women in jobs, reducing the gender gap and once more women work night shift, no woman will be alone at office at late hours. Also, women will be able to hold their position in this competitive world and this will create more employment opportunities.
However, as everything has two different aspects this decision too has to be given a thought and it cannot be ignored that there are anti-socials and so the need to protect the women working the night shift becomes imperative. Though major companies can arrange for cabs to drop women employees to their homes after the later shift, small scale industries and companies may not be in a position to do so. This will be risky for women employees.
Goa is a small State, known internationally as a top-class tourist destination with lakhs of people visiting the State every year. Tourism has also brought its ills to the tiny State like drugs, gambling and prostitution and many a time there are cases of tourists misbehaving with local women.
Goa is not the only State to take this decision. In December 2016, the Karnataka government lifted restrictions on allowing women to work in night shifts in all sectors. It issued guidelines to employers to ensure safety of women employees. Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra too amended the Factories Act 1948 to allow women to work in night shifts. The Factories Act 1948 banned women from working in night shifts by stating that no women shall be required or allowed to work in any factory except between the hours of 6 am and 7 pm.
While the State has now approved the proposal it has to also see that all conditions are in place to allow women to work at night. Factories have to provide transport facilities from the residence to workplace and back, free of cost and with adequate security. Companies must provide sufficient rest rooms, wash rooms and washing facilities with water supply separately for women employees so as to secure privacy. Companies should obtain the bio-data of each driver and conduct pre-employment screening of the antecedents of all drivers employed on their own. The schedule and route of the pickup and drop is to be decided by the supervisory office of the company. In case of an urgent need, change of drivers/routes/shifts should be allowed only with the prior knowledge of supervisory officers/employees. Companies must have a control room/travel desk for monitoring vehicle movements.
One thing is for sure, if women are discouraged from taking up work in night shifts, there will be no positive effect on society. If more and more women work in night shifts, safety for women will be ensured. The real solution is not stopping women from working in night shifts, rather changing the mindset of people, increasing safety measures and strengthening law and order.
