Delhi govt allows engaging women in night shifts at shops, commercial establishments

New Delhi: The Delhi government has allowed women workers to work night shifts in shops and commercial establishments with their mandatory written consent, officials said in a notification issued on Thursday.

The notification also stated that as per the Delhi Shops and Establishment Act, every employee will be entitled to double pay for overtime and maximum duty of 48 hours per week. It was also stated that internal complaints committees (ICCs) will also need to be formed.

Approval to the city government’s proposal to employ women workers in night shifts in shops and other commercial establishments was given by Deputy Governor VK Saxena earlier this year.
A recent notification issued by the labor department of the Delhi government added two entries regarding employment and conditions of employment of women under the Delhi Shops and Establishment Act, 1954.

In the additions, it was stated that female workers will be allowed to work in the night shift, but their written approval will be mandatory for this. The notification stated that no employee shall be employed or permitted to work more than nine hours (including meal and rest time) on any given day and 48 hours per week.

It was stated that employers will make appropriate arrangements regarding safety, security and transportation for all employees who are asked to work overtime or night shifts. It also stated that no employee will be allowed to work for more than five hours continuously. “Overtime wages will be paid to eligible employees at twice the normal rate provided under Section 8 of the Delhi Shops and Establishment Act, 1954. Shift work, if any, will be such that no employee is forced to work in night shift only,” the notice said.

More importantly, every employer employing women workers will constitute ICCs under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, the notification said.

In addition, employers will install CCTV cameras for video recording of the workplace, retain the footage for not less than one month and make it available to the store’s chief inspector upon request.

Reported records included compensatory leave to work on national holidays, weekly days off, legal benefits such as minimum wage, aid fund, insurance and bonuses.