The State Government of Karnataka vide its notification dated 19th October 2020 has published the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Act, 2020 in which the regulation relating to employment of women during night has been substituted.
The conditions for regulation of employment of women during night in a shop or commercial establishment shall be as follows:
• Willingness of women employees shall be obtained in writing and the establishment shall provide transport facilities from the residence of the woman employee to the workplace and back free of cost and with adequate security.
• Employment of women employees shall be on a rotation basis and adequate number of security guards shall be posted during night shift.
• The establishment shall bear the cost of crèche obtained by the women employees from voluntary or other organizations and sufficient restrooms, electricity, latrines lockers, dispensary facility and washing facilities with adequate water supply shall be provided separately for women employees so as to secure privacy.
• The telephone number, particularly mobile phone numbers email ID and address of the women employees shall not be disclosed to unauthorised persons and the company should provide security guards at workplace and night shift vehicles when women employees are being picked up first or dropped last.
• The establishment shall have a control room/travel desk for monitoring movement of vehicles and an App in mobile may be developed and adopted by the establishment through which the women employee can contact the concerned at the time of emergency by giving signal.
If any shops and commercial establishments do not comply with the above directions, it would lead to cancellation of certificate of registration.
