EARLIER UNSUCCESSFUL
ATTEMPTS OF THE GOVT
>> The Department of Factories and Boilers had granted two pharma companies to employ women after 7 pm and allowed the companies to work till 10 pm >> However, due to lack of public transport and the hassles of personally transporting female employees dissuaded other companies from taking up the offer
>> The previous regime had initially informed the Centre that it was not in favour of women working in industries between 10 pm and 6 am
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JOURNEY OF BILL
>> The amended bill will also be placed in the Goa Legislative Assembly for discussion and its passage
>> The amendments passed by the Goa cabinet will be sent for approval of central govt and President of India
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PANAJI: The State cabinet has through a circular given the nod for a state amendment in the Central Factories Act, 1948 which is in force in Goa, to make legal provision to allow women to work in night shifts in industries.
A total six changes have been sought through this amendment bill.
The amendment in section 65 of the Act seeks to enhance the total hours of work per week from 60 to 72 and total hours for overtime in any quarter from 75 to 125.
Amendment in clause (b) of section 66, allows factory to recruit women to work in any factory from 7 pm to 6 am. Currently, women are not permitted to work in factories between 7 pm and 6 am due to the restrictions imposed under Section 66 (i) (b) of the Factories Act, 1948 (Central Act 63 of 1948) as in force in the state of Goa.
Earlier, the Department of Factories and Boilers had granted two pharma companies to employ women after 7 pm and allowed the companies to work till 10 pm.
However, due to lack of public transport and the hassles of personally transporting female employees dissuaded other companies from taking up the offer.
The previous regime had initially informed the Centre that it was not in favour of women working in industries between 10 pm and 6 am because of inadequate public transport while saying it was open to the second shift which is from 6 pm to midnight.
Women are allowed to work late hours only in resorts and hospitals.
Pharmaceutical companies stand the most to benefit from the amendments.
The law which was passed soon after independence - Central factories Act 1948 was last amended in 1987 deals with various problems concerning safety, health, efficiency and well-being of the persons at workplaces.
Besides this, other technical amendments include a new section 92 A in the Act to enable compounding of certain offences before and after the institution of prosecution and an amendment in section 105 of the Act seeks to replace the powers with inspectors to chief inspector for sanction to file a complaint. Amendment of section 106 of Act seeks to enhance the time allowed for making complaint from three months to six months.
The amendments passed by the Goa cabinet will be sent for approval of Government of India and for the assent of the President of India before the same is placed in the Goa Legislative Assembly for discussion and its passage.
Similar amendments are also in consideration with central government but the comprehensive factories (Amendment) Bill, 2014 that was introduced in Lok Sabha in August 2014 is still under consideration four years later.
Considering that the central government may take more time for passing the bill the Goa government has decided to make amendments state level to create an industrial friendly environment in the state.
The Act is administered by the Ministry of Labour and Employment in India through its Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) and by the State Governments through their factory inspectorates. DGFASLI advises the Central and State Governments on administration of the Factories Act and coordinating the factory inspection services in the States.
The Act is applicable to any factory using power & employing 10 or more workers and if not using power, employing 20 or more workers
