This notification updates the rules for factories in Punjab employing women for night shifts, from 10:00 PM to 05:00 AM. It was created to amend earlier regulations that were first established after a High Court decision removed the legal ban on women working at night.

1.Sexual Harassment (POSH Act) Obligations

Employers are now under a strict mandate to fully implement the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Key duties include:

• Providing a safe working environment.
• Displaying the penal consequences of sexual harassment and the order creating the Internal Committee.
• Organizing regular awareness workshops and orientation programs.
• Assisting the Internal Committee with inquiries, including securing the attendance of respondents and witnesses.
• Providing assistance to a woman who chooses to file a police complaint.
• Treating sexual harassment as a misconduct under service rules.
• Reporting any incident of sexual harassment to the Inspector of Factories and the Internal Complaints Committee.
• Failure to comply will attract penalties under Section 26 of the POSH Act, alongside other potential prosecutions.

2. On-Site Safety & Operational Measures

• Group Employment: Women must be employed in a batch where their total number is not less than 5 or two-thirds of the total shift strength, whichever is less.
• Surveillance: CCTV must be installed to ensure safety, and all night shift recordings must be stored for at least 45 days.
• Security: At least two women security personnel must be deployed during the night shift.
• Lighting: All workplaces must be properly lit and have an adequate electricity backup system.

3. Transportation & Logistics

• Vehicle Safety: Common transport provided to women workers must have well-lit interiors, no curtains or dark films on windows, and prominently displayed Police Helpline and management contact numbers.
• Record Keeping: Proper logs of all vehicles, drivers, and security staff must be maintained.

4. Employee Welfare & Governance

• Medical Facilities: First-aid and medical facilities must be maintained as prescribed under the Factories Act.
• Accommodation: If the factory provides lodging, it must be exclusively for women and managed by women wardens or supervisors.
• Grievance Redressal: A meeting between female worker representatives and the principal employer must be held once every eight weeks as a “grievance day”.

     5. Approval and Enforcement

• Exemption Process: Factories can receive an auto-generated exemption within 24 hours of submitting an online application with an undertaking to comply with these conditions.
• Revocation: The competent authority reserves the right to revoke this exemption by passing a speaking order, after giving a 15-day notice and an opportunity for a hearing. The exemption, once granted, continues until it is withdrawn