A day after its '8pm deadline for women' drew criticism, the Gurgaon administration on Wednesday tried to 'clear the air' by emphasising that there was no "ban" on women working in malls and commercial establishments beyond 8pm.
It said that women could be employed by acquiring special permission from the labour department.
Also, the excise department clarified that there is already a blanket ban on the employment of women in bars where liquor is sold and served.
The department said that permission to employ women in bars did not come under the ambit of the labour department.
"The restaurants with bar licenses cannot employ women at any time of the day as the Haryana Excise Policy and the Labour Act do not have any such provisions," said Anurag Rastogi, commissioner, Haryana excise and taxation department.
According to district administration, about 35,000 women work in BPOs and the IT sector in Gurgaon. Out of these, about 15,000 are working in night shifts.
The employers annually take permission from the labour department for deploying women during late hours - after 8 pm.
{{/usCountry}}The employers annually take permission from the labour department for deploying women during late hours - after 8 pm.
{{/usCountry}}The onus of safety and transportation of these employees is on the employers.
Gurgaon deputy commissioner PC Meena clarified that shops and other commercial establishments were allowed to employ women during night by acquiring permission under Section 30 of the Labour Act as was being done by BPOs.
Meena said those who availed the facility were supposed to provide security to women during their transit between office and home in addition to forming a sexual harassment committee.