Time Reset: Delhi Women Can Now Legally Work Night Shifts In Shops And Offices
Stringent measures will be implemented to ensure women's security during night shifts, including transportation facilities, comprehensive CCTV surveillance
Women in Delhi will now be able to in night shifts (24×7) in shops and commercial establishments as part of the city government's efforts to revive nightlife.
The move will increase women's participation in the workforce while also boosting Ease of Doing Business in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said while announcing the landmark decision.
She emphasised that this policy would play a pivotal role in establishing Delhi as a 24×7 business hub and underscores the government's commitment to women's empowerment and economic independence.
'The proposal will soon be sent to the Lieutenant Governor for approval, following prior discussions on the matter. To implement this decision, exemptions are being made under the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954," she said.
Currently, Sections 14, 15, and 16 of the Act prohibit women from working between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. during summers and between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. during winters. The forthcoming amendment will remove these restrictions, thereby enabling women to work night shifts across the city.
She noted that similar permissions are already in place in states such as Haryana, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister reaffirmed that women's welfare is at the top of the government's agenda and that multiple initiatives are being undertaken to ensure the economic advancement of working women.
Will Women Be Safe Working At Night?
The Delhi government has mandated all establishments to follow a comprehensive set of conditions to safeguard women working in night shifts.
The women need to provide consent to their employers to get the night shifts. The workplaces have been asked to have CCTV surveillance, female security guards, and transport facilities. Each establishment must also constitute an Internal Complaints Committee under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act. Furthermore, restrooms, toilets, lockers, and other basic amenities must be provided, she said.
Additional conditions include mandatory electronic payment of wages (bank/ECS), provision of all statutory benefits, including ESI, bonus, provident fund, as well as weekly offs and overtime compensation.
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
12 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Govt. to table private school fee Bill in Monsoon Session: CM
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday said the Delhi government will table a Bill to regulate fee hikes by private schools during the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Assembly, beginning August 4. Amid ongoing protests by parents, the Delhi government had earlier approved a draft of the Bill and proposed bringing an Ordinance, since the Assembly was not in session. Now, it has decided to table the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025. 'The Delhi government will table the Bill to regulate fee hikes by private schools in the Monsoon Session of Assembly beginning from August 4,' Ms. Gupta said while addressing the media. The parents' groups, while pointing out issues in the Bill, said that they will send their detailed suggestions to the government on Sunday. Three-level checks A three-level verification will be implemented to regulate fee hikes, according to the Bill seen by The Hindu. First, schools will form an 11-member committee comprising the school management – a management representative and principal – three teachers, five parents from the parent-teacher association, selected by a draw of lots, and a nominee of the Directorate of Education (DoE). A District Fee Appellate Committee will hear appeals against the decisions taken by school-level committees. A similar procedure will be followed with a State-level revision committee, which will be the highest appellate authority. An aggrieved parents' group, which the Bill describes as 15% of the total strength of parents in an affected school, may appeal to the District Fee Appellate Committee within 30 days from the time the fees are approved, against the decisions of school-level committees. The Bill also specifies that if a school is found levying a fee that is not determined in the provisions of the Act, the DoE will direct the school to roll back the fee and refund the excess amount to the parents. The penalty for violators can range between ₹1 lakh and ₹10 lakh. Meanwhile, a fine of ₹50,000 will be levied on schools for harassing students over delayed payment of fees. The Bill also mentions the 10 factors that will determine the fee structure, including the location of the school, infrastructure made available, the education standardof schools, and a reasonable revenue surplus as may be prescribed. Divya Mattey, a parent of a student who studies in Delhi Public School, Dwarka, said, 'It will be difficult to get a minimum of 15% of the parent body to raise a question.' Mr. Mattey said that parents have noted that the penalties might not affect bigger schools, for whom '₹50,000 might be a small amount'. AAP, BJP at odds Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi State president Saurabh Bharadwaj criticised the Bill, saying, 'Until now, even under the 1973 law, if a single parent felt that fees had been unfairly hiked, they could file a complaint with the DoE. Now, that has been scrapped. Under the new law, you'll need a minimum of 15% of parents to raise a complaint. In a school with 3,000 students, that means identifying 450 parents – a near-impossible task.' Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said, 'It would have been better if Saurabh Bharadwaj had waited until the Bill was tabled in the upcoming session before commenting on it.'
The Hindu
12 minutes ago
- The Hindu
CM vows one million homes for poor, digital overhaul
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday said that the Delhi government is developing a comprehensive strategy to address the demand for one million houses for economically weaker sections (EWS) and slum dwellers across the Capital. During a visit to EWS flats built in 2011 in Sultanpuri, which are now in a dilapidated state, Ms. Gupta stated that the government plans to renovate around 50,000 unused flats constructed under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission and allocate them to slum residents. 'Our government is committed to ensuring dignified housing and a better life for slum dwellers. In the first phase, 50,000 flats will be allocated. These efforts are fully aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resolve of providing housing for every poor,' she said. The CM said the government plans to relocate slum dwellers within a two-kilometre radius of these flats after carrying out necessary repairs and adding basic facilities. Ms. Gupta also directed officials to prioritise the immediate repair of salvageable units and reconstruct those beyond repair. Ms. Gupta blamed the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the years-long neglect of these flats. 'The same parties that did nothing while in power are now making noise. Why weren't these houses distributed before?' she said. Responding to her remarks, AAP said if the BJP was serious about protecting slum dwellers, it should urge Central agencies to withdraw legal cases pending against slum clusters in the High Court and the Supreme Court. Online reforms Ms. Gupta also announced a push towards digitising governance, stating that the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) has now fully transitioned to an e-office platform. 'The Delhi Secretariat is already digitised. All files now move through the e-office system and are e-signed. We aim to make the entire Secretariat paperless soon,' she said, adding that digitisation has improved transparency and sped up decision-making. According to the CMO, the e-office system saw rapid adoption in July. Of 199 departments, 119 now operate fully as e-offices, up from 22% in June. Digital file usage surged past 1.18 lakh, marking a 250% month-on-month increase.
News18
22 minutes ago
- News18
Hamas Slams Envoy Witkoff's Visit To Gaza Amid Starvation Crisis Israel Hamas War News
As US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff visited war-torn Gaza, Hamas condemned Trump envoy's visit to the site operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Fund, calling it a "pre-arranged theatrical performance". However, the terror group also vowed not to disarm as long as the occupation exists and until there is a fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. News18 Mobile App -
