Uttarakhand: Security tightened for women working night shifts; pickup and drop services, GPS tracking, and panic buttons made mandatory

Industries will have to provide safe pick-up and drop-off facilities for female employees working the night shift, ensuring their safety to and from their residences. Vehicles must be equipped with GPS tracking and a panic button.

Police verification of the driver and conductor will also be mandatory. The Uttarakhand Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act was recently approved in a cabinet meeting, and the notification has been issued, implementing it along with the new rules.

According to the new rules, women will now be able to work in all establishments and industries during the night shift, from 9 PM to 6 AM. Several mandatory conditions have also been stipulated, keeping in mind the safety and rights of female employees.

The first condition states that the consent of female workers will be mandatory for working the night shift. If a woman refuses to work the night shift, she cannot be compelled to do so by the company management.

Additionally, in case of pregnancy or maternity, the company must provide all employment-related provisions in accordance with the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.

For the safety of female employees, the company management will have to provide information about the work schedule to the labor officer and the local police station in-charge.

Facilities such as toilets, changing rooms, and drinking water must be provided.
All industries must ensure a safe, healthy, and secure environment. Providing basic facilities such as toilets, changing rooms, and drinking water will be the responsibility of the company management. Furthermore, full compliance with the 2013 Act related to sexual harassment will be mandatory.

CCTV cameras will be installed in shops and establishments
For the safety of women, CCTV cameras will be installed at the entrances and workplaces of shops and industries and will be kept continuously operational.

This decision by the government will increase women’s participation in the workforce in the state and provide them with new employment opportunities in various sectors. All the rules included in the order must be followed 100%.
Dr. Sridhar Babu Addanki, Labor Secretary