Panaji : The state government on Thursday cleared the way for women employed in stores, cafes, restaurants, pharmacies and shops to work at night – from 7 pm to 6 am.
A notification issued by the labour department said the employment for women in night hours must be with consent in writing from the women concerned, and in compliance with conditions such as secure and safe transportation facilities to them with pick-up and drop at the residence.
The notification said that for women to work at night in shops and establishments there must be CCTV cameras in the workplaces.
Furthermore shop employers must provide a safe, secure and healthy working condition so that no woman worker is disadvantaged in connection with her employment.
The permission to women for working at night is under Section 17A of the Goa Shops and Establishments Act, 1973 (Goa Act 13 of 1974). It follows the go-ahead given by the inspectorate of factories and boilers in May 29, this year, for employing women in factories in night shifts to all industrial units.
Several states such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, etc, have consented to women working in shops and establishments after 7 pm and in night hours.
In Goa, the number of 24-hour standalone cafes, restaurants as well as pharmacies has been on the rise.
