After derailing the Insurance laws (Amendment) Bill, the Congress is now insisting that the Factories Amendment Bill 2014 should also be referred to a standing committee for further vetting.
The Bill, which was introduced by the Government in lok Sabha on Thursday, seeks to provide “flexibility” in the matter of employment of women during late night hours.
In a bid to give “boost to labour reforms”, the Cabinet gave its approval for introduction of official amendments to the Factories (Amendment) Bill 2005 pending in the lok Sabha since August 16, 2005, to amend Section 66 of the Factories Act, 1948 that would make it “easy” for women to work during night.
The Congress is, however, “not in favour” of women working night shifts in factories.
The Congress, left and Trinamool Congress want a detailed scrutiny of the Bill before it is passed by the Parliament.
As in the Insurance laws Regulation Bill, the Modi-Government is reaching out to the Congress to have the Bill passed in Parliament.
“We want the Bill be referred to a Parliamentary standing committee as serious issues are involved,” said a senior Congress leader in lok Sabha.
The Congress women wing chief and spokespersons Shobha Oza said, “As a chief of the women’s organisation, I oppose this amendment that women be allowed to work during the night shifts in factories.”
She said women should not be working in night in factories but made exception in case of BPOs where private companies have arrangement of vehicles for dropping women employees, she said.
The Congress leader said that for safety reasons, the party feels women should be given day duties in factories.
The Government is also planning to introduce the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2014, in the lok Sabha, but has yet not listed it as part of next week’s business.
The Factories (amendment) Bill, 2005 was placed before Parliament in August 2005 to amend Section 66 of the Factories Act, 1948. In August 2007, the Union Cabinet had approved amendment in the Factories Act paving the way for women employees to work in late night shifts.
The International labour Organisation (IlO) adopted in 1948, Convention No.89 which stipulates that women, without distinction of age, should not be employed during the night in public or private industrial undertakings.
The Convention does not apply to women holding responsible positions of a managerial or technical character or to women employed in health and welfare services who are not ordinarily engaged in manual work. India has ratified this Convention on February 27, 1950.
Subsequently, the General Conference of the IlO in June, 1990 adopted a Protocol relating to Convention No.89. Under the provisions of this Protocol, national laws and regulations may authorise the competent authority to modify the duration of the night-shift or to introduce exemptions from the prohibition within certain limits.