The Mohan Majhi government in Odisha has asked shops and commercial establishments employing women in night shifts to obtain written consent from them if they are willing to work late shifts.
The notification explicitly prohibits the employment of adolescents during night shifts. (HT Photo)
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The official notice, released by the Labour & ESI department under Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1956, said employers must obtain written consent from women willing to work night shifts, ensuring voluntary participation.
“To prevent isolation, a minimum of three women, including an onsite woman employer if applicable, must be present during such shifts. Employers required to provide vehicles equipped with GPS tracking for pick-up and drop-off at or near women employees’ residences. Additionally, employers must verify the biodata and police records of all drivers, whether directly employed or hired through service providers, to mitigate risks. Employers are mandated to provide well-lit washrooms and drinking water facilities near workstations, equipped with CCTV surveillance covering passages to these amenities,” the government notification said.
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The guidelines further stipulate a minimum of eight consecutive hours of rest between shifts when transitioning between day and night duties, prioritising the health and well-being of women employees. Compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, is mandatory. Employers have to submit a self-certification through the labour department’s online portal, affirming adherence to all safety and dignity provisions.
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The guidelines further stipulate a minimum of eight consecutive hours of rest between shifts when transitioning between day and night duties, prioritising the health and well-being of women employees. Compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, is mandatory. Employers have to submit a self-certification through the labour department’s online portal, affirming adherence to all safety and dignity provisions.
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The notification explicitly prohibits the employment of adolescents during night shifts.
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.
