PANJIM: Five months after the Goa Factories (amendment) Bill, allowing women to work in factories on night shifts, was passed by the State Legislative Assembly, the same has now been forwarded to the President of India for his consent.
The Bill, which was passed amidst protest from Opposition, also proposed to enhance the total hours of male workers from 60 to 72 per week and the total hours of overtime in any quarter from 75 to 125 hours.
Speaking to Herald, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Factories and Boilers Chandrakant Kavlekar said that Governor Satya Pal Malik has referred the Bill to President of India Ram Nath Kovind for the consent, which is a routine process.
“Being a Central Law, the Bill has to be referred to President of India for assent. The President, then seeks comments from Central Department of Law, Home Affairs and Factories and Boilers, before giving it an assent,” Kavlekar said adding that Governor has also given the assent.
However, sources reveal that the Bill is referred to President by Governor, without the assent.
The Bill has amended Section 66 of the Act, so as to empower the government to specify the conditions for ensuring the safety of women who work in any factory or manufacturing process between 7 pm and 6 am.
The Bill, which was a brain child of former Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai, was strongly opposed by the Congress and Nationalist Congress party (NCP). They alleged that thought was not given to safety of women, while considering them to work in night shifts. They had demanded that the Bill be referred to select panel.
