Odisha Proposes Amendments to Factories Rules to Allow Women in All Operations with Enhanced Safety

The Labour & E.S.I. Department of the Government of Odisha issued a notification on July 28, 2025, publishing a draft of certain rules intended to further amend the Odisha Factories Rules, 1950. This proposed amendment, titled the Odisha Factories (Amendment) Rules, 2025, seeks to modify existing provisions under the Factories Act, 1948, specifically concerning the employment of women in factory operations. The draft rules were published for the information of all persons likely to be affected, with a notice inviting objections or suggestions within forty-five days from the date of publication in the Odisha Gazette. Upon their final publication in the Official Gazette, these rules are slated to come into force.

The core of the proposed amendments involves significant changes to rule 97 of the Odisha Factories Rules, 1950, across multiple schedules, including Schedules II, III, IV, VI, VII, VIII, X, XI, XII, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, and XXII. In each of these schedules, the existing words 'woman' or 'woman or' are proposed to be omitted from specific paragraphs that previously imposed restrictions or made specific mention of women in a limiting context. Concurrently, new paragraphs are proposed for insertion after these omissions, explicitly stating that women workers may be allowed to work in all operations. This change is consistently applied throughout the various schedules, ensuring a uniform approach to women's employment across different types of factory work.

The legislation provided: “Allowing women in all operations - Women workers may be allowed to work in all operations, provided that while appropriate protective gear or equipment shall be ensured for all workers as per rule 62H, it must also be specifically ensured for pregnant and nursing women.” This central provision underscores a policy shift towards gender-neutral employment practices in factories. The legislative intent behind these amendments is to remove statutory barriers that previously restricted women from participating in certain industrial operations, thereby promoting greater inclusivity and equal employment opportunities. The earlier legal position, implied by the specific mention of 'woman' in restrictive contexts within the schedules, suggested limitations on their engagement in particular tasks or environments.

These draft rules aim to address such statutory gaps by explicitly enabling women to work in all operations. This move aligns with broader efforts to enhance women's participation in the workforce and to ensure that employment decisions are based on capability rather than gender. Crucially, while expanding opportunities, the amendments also introduce a mandatory safeguard: the provision of appropriate protective gear or equipment for all workers, with a specific emphasis on ensuring such protection for pregnant and nursing women, as per rule 62H (which typically deals with health and safety provisions, including personal protective equipment). This dual approach seeks to balance increased employment access with robust safety and health protections, particularly for vulnerable groups of women workers. The amendments do not introduce new enforcement mechanisms but rather modify the scope of existing regulations under the Factories Act, 1948, which governs industrial safety and working conditions.

Keywords: Odisha Factories Rules, Women Workers, Factories Act, Labour Law, Gender Equality, Industrial Safety, Protective Gear, Pregnant Workers, Nursing Mothers, Odisha Government

Geo Tags: India, Odisha District: Not Applicable