Night-shift Factors For Women In Factories

The Government's move to amend the Factories Act 1948 allowing women the right to work in late night shifts from 10 pm to 6 am, is laudable. This move was awaited since long and is now supposed to further enhance the prospects of the Indian economy, with increased quality competition in the job market. However, women employees are to be adequately safeguarded against such exploitations as sexual abuse at workplace as also imposition of mandatory late night shifts on them. Left's agitation over the amendment is thus not entirely untenable. Thus the authorities should make it a point to see to it that the law as it stands now is not put to misuse. Loopholes, if any, are to be plugged as soon as detected. Otherwise the noble cause of women's empowerment will land the society in doldrums.