In a significant move aimed at empowering women in the workforce, the Uttar Pradesh government announced a landmark directive on Wednesday, introducing a series of robust measures for female employees working night shifts.
What The New Directive Offers
According to the official Gazette order, women employees can now work between 7 pm and 6 am, provided they have given their explicit consent. For employers, this new framework comes with mandatory responsibilities. They are now legally bound to ensure fair wages, enhanced security, and other necessary facilities for their female staff during these hours.
The specific benefits outlined in the order are substantial and designed to create a safe and rewarding work environment. Key provisions include:
- Payment of double wages for the night shift duty.
- Mandatory CCTV surveillance at the workplace.
- Provision of secure transport facilities.
- Deployment of security guards to ensure safety.
Extended Work Hours and Expanded Opportunities
The new rules also provide greater flexibility and earning potential. Women employees are permitted to work for up to six days a week. Furthermore, the directive has more than doubled the permissible overtime limit.
Employees can now work up to 144 hours of overtime every quarter, a significant increase from the previous cap of 75 hours per quarter. Crucially, all overtime work will be compensated at double the standard wage rate, providing a substantial boost to income.
In a groundbreaking expansion of opportunities, this new order applies to 29 categories of hazardous industries, where women were previously restricted. The Yogi Adityanath-led government's initiative is widely seen as a progressive step towards fostering gender equality and empowering women economically by opening up new avenues for employment around the clock.
