Kerala banishes night shift ghosts for women

The companies are bound to arrange transportation for the women on night duty from their residence to the work place, and have to provide rest room facility for them. The directives will be applicable to employees of hotels and restaurants, tourism, banking and financial establishments, fish processing units, commercial establishments, food processing and garment-making units and engineering establishments.

According to Labour Secretary Elias George, the guidelines were formulated in the wake of increasing demands from various companies to issue guidelines extending the working hours of women employees. He said, ‘‘The guidelines are part of regular efforts by the government to help provide harassment-free working environment to all. We are currently reviewing all sectors employing women and more guidelines will surely follow.’’ But with the guidelines having been made mandatory, some fear they would have an adverse effect on women’s job prospects.

‘‘Many of the companies at present have none of these facilities insisted upon by the government. And many would rather not consider women for their work-force rather than go to the lengths of implementing these stipulations,’’ said Rupali, an employee of a financial firm in Kochi. Also, firms with only a few women in their workforce are now faced with the option of updating their facilities as per the prescribed norms or exempting women workers from taking night shifts.

According to State Women’s Commission member Lissamma Thomas, there has been a considerable decrease in the number of work-related harassment cases reported in the last one year.

‘‘Many establishments now deal strictly with such cases. And, with the government taking the initiative to make these norms mandatory, the working atmosphere in the state will improve tremendously,’’ she maintained.