Karnataka plans ban on night shift for women in shops

By IANS 


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Bangalore : The Karnataka government plans to ban night shift for women in shops and commercial establishments and hotels from July. The proposed ban will not be applicable to women working in the IT and bio-technology sectors, besides hospitals and other essential services, officials said Friday.

State Labour Minister Iqbal Ansari said at a function here late Friday that the government would enact a legislation in this regard in July.

"The aim is to check rising crimes against women. Women employees will not be allowed to work after 8 p.m.," Ansari said.

According to labour department officials, the government plans to invoke an existing provision in the Labour Act, 1961, banning night shifts beyond 8 p.m. in shops and commercial establishments and hotels.

Officials said the ban would apply to only those working in the firms that come under the Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961.

The IT and bio tech sector secured an exemption from the provisions of the act to employ women in night shift as well as graveyard shift, after midnight, the official said.

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