Women, who earlier stayed at home fulfilling domestic duties,
are now considered as the backbone of any economy. She is
participating in the process of economic development on an equal
footing with men, simultaneously managing both home and work. Women
have moved away from their traditional roles of homemaker and child
rearing to social and business solutions. Still, they have always
been treated differently, discriminated in all aspects throughout
the world.
The Government of India, meeting a longstanding demand for
gender parity in workforce, has approved an amendment in the
Factories Act, 1948, allowing women employees to work in
nightshifts. But the amendment would only be applicable if the
employer ensures safety, adequate measures to ensure health, equal
opportunity to women workers, transportation, etc. Section 66 of
the Factories Act, 1948 prohibits women employees from working at
night. They could only work between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.
