Women allowed to work in night shifts in all factories in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Nov 20: The Karnataka government on Wednesday issued a notification allowing women to work in night shifts (7 pm to 6 am) in all factories registered under the factories act.
The state government has in the notification cited a Madras High Court judgment striking down Section 66(1)(b) of the Factories Act, 1948, which prohibited women working in night shifts, and certain conditions laid down by it.
"The employer shall be at liberty to employ women workers as a whole or in part during the night shift, provided, the directions be complied with," the notification reads, listing conditions.
The employer shall send a fortnightly report to Inspector of Factories about the details of employees engaged during night shifts and also send express report whenever there is some untoward incident, to the Inspector of Factories and local police station as well, it said.
The notification also clarifies that "It shall not be made compulsory or obligatory for any women worker to work in night shifts. Written consent shall be obtained from the women workers who are interested to work in night shifts."
The Chief Inspector may by an order withdraw the permission issued by the notification to any factory, if any or all the conditions laid down in the notification are not followed, in the interest of safety and security of the women workers who come forward to work in night shifts, it said.
Labour Minister Suresh Kumar recently said during his meeting with industries representatives the latter asked for permission to employ women at shop floors and for night shifts.
The government had said it will look into the pros and cons and also hold discussion with the Law department before taking a decision.
As of now, women are allowed to work night shifts only in the IT and IT-enabled service sectors in the state.
With this notification, women will allowed to work during night in other sectors including manufacturing.
Listing the conditions, the government has said it shall be the duty of the employer or other responsible persons at work places to prevent or deter the commission of acts of sexual harassment and to provide the procedures for the resolution, statement or prosecution of acts of sexual harassment by taking all steps required.
The notification states that the employer shall provide proper lighting and CCTV coverage not only inside the factory, but also surroundings of the factory and to all places where women workers may move out of necessity in the course of such shift.
CCTV footage shall be stored for not less than 45 days.
The employers shall see that the women workers are employed in a batch not less than 10 and the total of the women workers employed in a night shift shall not be less than two-thirds of the total strength.
It also states that the employer shall provide transportation facility for women workers from their residence and back (for night shift) and security guards (including female security guard) and each transportation vehicle shall also be equipped with CCTV camera.
It says the employer or persons in charge of factory shall take steps to prevent sexual harassment in any form.
The rules or regulations shall be framed by the factory managements relating to conduct and discipline prohibiting sexual harassment and provide for appropriate penalties in such rules against the offenders.
In case of any criminal case, the employer shall initiate appropriate action in accordance with the penal law without delay and also ensure that victims or witness are not victimised or discriminated.
The employer shall maintain a complaint redressal mechanism in the factory itself and it shall ensure time-bound treatment of complaint.
According to the notification, the female employees shall be allowed to raise issues of sexual harassment to workers at the workers' meeting and other appropriate forums.
They shall be made aware of their rights in particular by prominently notifying the guidelines on the subject.
Among others, the notification states that there shall be not less than 12 consecutive hours of rest or gap between the last shift and the night shift wherever a women worker is changed from day shift to night and vice versa.
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Kerala lynching: CM assures justice, CPI (M) targets RSS-BJP over incident
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The Kerala government on Monday assured stringent action in the mob lynching of a Chattisgarh native mistaken to be a thief, and promised justice to the family, even as the ruling CPI(M) targeted the RSS over the assault, a charge denied by the BJP.
Ramnarayan (31), was allegedly beaten to death on Wednesday after being accused of involvement in theft at Kizhakeattappallam near Walayar in Palakkad district.
With the issue sending shock waves across the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday described the incident as "deeply disturbing".
Assuring justice to his family, who have arrived in the state, Vijayan said such acts tarnish the reputation of a progressive society like Kerala and are completely unacceptable.
State minister M B Rajesh claimed racial slurs were made at the victim and that the attackers were RSS workers. Ruling CPI (M) state secretary M V Govindan also alleged that RSS-BJP workers were behind the crime.
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In a statement issued by the CM's office, Vijayan said strict action would be taken against those responsible for the crime.
A special investigation team of the district police is probing the incident, he said, adding that instructions have been issued to thoroughly examine the details of the case and initiate all necessary legal proceedings.
The government will also review the matter and ensure appropriate compensation to the victim's family, Vijayan added.
He called for collective vigilance to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
His remarks came a day after opposition Congress and the victim's family demanded compensation and an investigation under stringent laws, including the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The brother of deceased man told reporters on Sunday that the family would not accept the body until their demands, including compensation of Rs 25 lakh, are met.
Kerala ministers K Rajan and Rajesh strongly condemned the incident and said it was not just a mob lynching case but racial abuse was involved in it.
The ministers said the accused had attacked the deceased man, calling him a "Bangladeshi" and beat him to death.
"The government will ensure a foolproof probe into the incident, and no one involved in the crime will be spared," Revenue Minister Rajan told reporters in Thrissur.
He said an amount not less than Rs 10 lakh would be granted from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) to the deceased man's family and a cabinet meeting would take a decision in this regard.
LSGD Minister Rajesh also said Ramnarayan was branded as a Bangladeshi by the attackers.
While talking to reporters in Palakkad, he alleged that those who brutally assaulted and killed Ramnarayan were RSS workers.
The Chhattisgarh native, who reached Kerala in search of a job, became a victim of the "divisive politics" of Sangh Parivar, Rajesh further alleged.
"Branding a person as Bangladeshi came from racial politics. Ramnarayan was a victim of the racial poison spread by the Sangh Parivar in the country," he charged.
Rajesh also accused a section of the media of hiding the involvement of the RSS in the assault.
Stepping up the attack against the right-wing groups, CPI (M) state secretary M V Govindan alleged that RSS-BJP workers were the ones behind the crime.
"Those involved in the incident were accused in various criminal cases of RSS. All of them were identified. Such cruelties should not be allowed to repeat in the state," he said.
Expressing strong protest, the senior leader further said a society which believes in democratic values and secular principles cannot accept such crimes.
Senior BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan strongly rejected the charges against the saffron party and the RSS.
"Actually, why is politics mixed in such crimes. When a heinous crime like mob lynching happens, should it not be treated as an anti-social act," he told reporters here.
Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, V D Satheesan urged the government to take urgent steps to provide financial assistance to the family of Ramnarayan.
Meanwhile, Palakkad Superintendent of Police Ajit Kumar said at present, the case was registered under sections of murder, and after a detailed probe, more would be added.
After verifying the caste certificate of the deceased man, SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act would also be invoked, he told reporters in Palakkad.
A 10-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under the DSP (district crime branch) to probe the mob lynching incident. The SIT will be under the direction and supervision of the Pakakkad SP, he added.
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When reporters asked about the political background of the accused persons, the officer said it was being verified.
He said that the arrested persons were already facing police cases.
Five people have been arrested so far for allegedly beating Ramnarayan to death on suspicion of theft.
The injured man was rushed to the Palakkad District Government Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
