In a move aimed at safeguarding the rights and safety of women workers, the Government of Manipur has issued a fresh notification restricting the employment of women in work places or factories during night hours. The order, issued by Anurag Bajpai, Additional Chief Secretary (Textiles, Commerce & Industry), prohibits the employment of women between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. in all work sites and factories across the state. The decision, taken in public interest, is grounded in provisions of the Factories Act, 1948, and will take effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette.
While the notification bars mandatory night work, it allows women to work beyond 7:00 p.m. if they voluntarily choose to do so and provide written consent to their employer. To ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of women working late, the government has laid down a comprehensive set of conditions that must be followed by all factory owners.
Employers are required to ensure that factory premises are well-lit and covered by CCTV surveillance both inside and outside the facility. Safe and reliable transportation must be arranged for women employees working beyond regular hours. Factories must maintain a hygienic and non-hostile working environment, and make separate restrooms available for female workers arriving early or leaving late. Additionally, notices informing women of their rights in the workplace must be prominently displayed within the premises.
The notification makes it mandatory for all factories to strictly comply with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. A general policy on sexual harassment prevention must be formulated, submitted to the concerned authorities, and a Grievance Officer must be appointed in each establishment. Furthermore, all employment practices must adhere to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. As part of this, pregnant and lactating women shall not be engaged for work beyond the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
The state government has urged all factory managements to ensure full compliance with the new directive, stating that the protection of women workers’ rights and dignity is of utmost importance in building a safer and more inclusive industrial sector in Manipur.