Women workers not bound to work before 6 am and after 7 pm without written consent: Uttar Pradesh government

The Uttar Pradesh government has laid down that no woman worker shall be bound to work without her written consent before 6 am and after 7 pm, and shall not be terminated if she denies to work during these hours..A notification to that effect was issued by the government. The notification, in public interest, exempted factories from the restrictions under Section 66 of the Factories Act, subject to certain conditions. .Apart from restrictions on work hours, the notification lays down conditions to ensure a safe work environment for women workers during the restricted hours including free transport to and from their residence as well as food..Additionally, the employer has been mandated to ensure convenience facilities like washrooms, changing room, drinking facilities and light near the workplace..Pertinently, employers were directed to take steps in order to prevent sexual harassment of women working in factories, both by setting up redressal mechanisms and making them aware of their rights. The notification also stipulated that permission to factories would be cancelled automatically in case of violation of the prescribed conditions. .The following are the conditions laid down by the notification:1. No woman worker shall be bound to work without her written consent before 6:00 AM and after 7:00 PM. 2. No Women worker shall be terminated from her employment if she denies to work between 07:00 PM to 06:00 AM.3. Women worker working between 07:00 PM to 06:00 AM shall be provided free transportation form her residence to workplace by the employer of the factory and back.4. Women worker working between 07:00 PM to 06:00 AM shall be provided food by employer of the factory.5. Women worker working between 07:00 PM to 06:00 AM shall be provided sufficient supervision during working hours and journey thereof.6. Employer shall ensure toilets, washrooms, changing-room, drinking facilities and light near the work place.7. During the working between 07:00 PM to 06:00 AM, not less than four women worker shall be allowed to work in the premises or a particular department.8. Employer shall intimate the , for verification, affording him a maximum period of seven days for such verification.9. The employer shall send a monthly report electronically or otherwise to the Inspector of factories of region concerned about the details of women workers engaged during night shift and shall also send express report whenever there is some untoward incident to the Inspector of factories of region concerned, and local Police Station as well.10. The Inspector of factories shall enforce the safe working conditions of women worker and carefully take note of the non-compliance in their inspection from time to time.11. Employer shall take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment. The employer shall maintain a complaint mechanism in the factory itself as prescribed in the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention. Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 or in any other related enactments.12. The women worker shall be made aware of their rights in particular by prominently displaying the guideline as may be required.