Jharkhand Notifies Comprehensive Safety Guidelines for Women in Night Shift Factory Work

The Labour, Employment, Training and Skill Development Department of the Government of Jharkhand issued a significant Notification on October 24, 2025, establishing detailed guidelines for the employment of women workers in night shifts within factories across the state. This notification, bearing S.O. Notification No. 7/104/2025 J, came into force immediately upon its publication in The Jharkhand Gazette Extraordinary, providing a framework for occupiers and factory managers to ensure the safety, security, and dignity of women working between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. The issuance of these guidelines follows the recent amendments introduced by the Factories (Jharkhand Amendment) Act, 2025, which modified the proviso to clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 66 of the Factories Act, 1948, thereby permitting women to work night shifts under specified conditions.

The comprehensive set of twenty guidelines mandates several crucial provisions for factories. Employers are now required to obtain written consent from women workers willing to undertake night shifts and must strictly adhere to the maternity benefit provisions outlined in the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. Factories must provide adequate transportation facilities equipped with GPS tracking for pick-up and drop-off near the workers' residences, though women may opt for self-transportation with a written undertaking. Essential amenities include separate toilet and washroom facilities, and where applicable under Section 48 and Rule 73 of the Factories Act, crèche facilities must be operational during night hours. Workplaces, including passages to conveniences, must be well-lit, and suitable provisions for closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance are encouraged. For women workers requiring boarding and lodging, these facilities must be exclusively for women and managed by women wardens or supervisors. Furthermore, strict compliance with the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Protection, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013, is mandatory, and a minimum of five women workers must be employed in any particular area where women are working. Surveillance of canteens during night shifts is also required.

Beyond welfare provisions, the notification lays down stringent security measures. Factories must constitute a 'Factory Security Committee' to strategize and implement appropriate security protocols, including routine security patrolling during night time and the establishment of a 24x7 manned security control room. Close liaisoning with the nearest police station is mandated, alongside conducting security audits, preferably in consultation with police authorities, to assess and improve security measures. Complete CCTV coverage of the premises is required, with a protocol for quick sharing of video footage of any untoward incident with local police to facilitate swift response and investigation. Security personnel are to be technically oriented and trained in soft skills, with a preference for employing ex-servicemen from the Directorate General of Resettlements in identified high-risk areas. A critical enforcement mechanism is the requirement for any occupier (the person who has ultimate control over the affairs of the factory) employing women in night shifts to submit an electronic self-certification through the designated departmental portal, affirming compliance with all stipulated facilities and commitment to the safety, security, and dignity of women workers. The display of state laws for worker protection and relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with punitive details, in local language and English at conspicuous places within the factory premises, is also mandated. Any deviation from these guidelines will be treated as a violation of the provisions.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to operationalize the amended legal framework by providing clear, actionable guidelines that ensure a safe and conducive working environment for women in night shifts. Historically, Section 66(1)(b) of the Factories Act, 1948, restricted women's employment between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., a provision aimed at protecting women but which also limited their economic opportunities. The Factories (Jharkhand Amendment) Act, 2025, sought to address this by allowing night work for women, recognizing the evolving needs of the industrial sector and women's participation in the workforce. However, this legislative change necessitated robust safeguards to prevent exploitation and ensure well-being. The notification fills these statutory gaps by detailing the practical measures employers must undertake, thereby balancing increased employment opportunities with paramount concerns for safety and dignity. The legislation provided: “Any Occupier employing women between the hours of 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. shall submit a Self-certification in the prescribed proforma, electronically, in the designated portal of the Department, that he or she has provided all the facilities as mentioned in this Notification and shall take due care and diligence regarding the safety, security and dignity of women workers;” This clause underscores the policy rationale of placing the onus on employers to proactively ensure a secure environment, thereby fostering trust and enabling women to participate in night-time industrial work without undue risk. The guidelines introduce new obligations for factory occupiers, emphasizing a proactive approach to worker welfare and security, and establishing a clear framework for accountability, with non-compliance leading to statutory violations.

Keywords: Jharkhand, Factories Act, women workers, night shift, safety guidelines, labour law, industrial safety, women employment, Factories (Jharkhand Amendment) Act, 2025 Geo Tags: India, Jharkhand District: Not Applicable