Following the murder of a 21-year-old woman employee of an export company, the police have asked owners of all the companies and BPO firms in Gautam Budh Nagar district to provide transport facility to their women staff.

In a circular issued on Thursday, it has been clearly said that all the companies need to do so within a week. "We have issued a circular to all the export companies, BPOs and other industries to ensure safety to their staff, especially women working with them. The companies must make arrangement for pick-and-drop facility for women employees after sunset," said Praveen Kumar, senior superintendent of police, Gautam Budh Nagar.

The police have also made it compulsory for the firms to get the drivers verified within a week, failing which they will be booked. "Each company should get their drivers and security guards verified with us. A company should have details of all security staff and drivers, including their fingerprints and photographs, who accompany women in its cab," Kumar said.

The circular also says that employees should alert the police and their company to any changes in cab routes or no security escort for a woman employee.

Noida is the home to scores of IT firms, BPOs and call centres. More than 30% of the employees in these companies are women. In the BPO industry, the number is as high as 50%. Stricter rules are needed for the security of female professionals, who work late at call centres are well protected.