Odisha Assembly Approves Bill Allowing Women Night Shifts and Extended Work Hours
Significant Legislative Changes in Odisha
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly has recently passed a Bill that allows women to work during night hours and increases the daily working limit from nine to ten hours.
The Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was approved despite a walkout by opposition parties, including the BJD and Congress.
Labour Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia, who presented the Bill, emphasized that it introduces significant reforms aimed at benefiting small businesses and workplaces.
He noted that businesses with up to 20 employees would be exempt from certain provisions of the 1956 Act, thereby easing the regulatory load on smaller enterprises.
Regarding the changes in working hours, Singhkhuntia explained that while the daily limit would rise to ten hours, the weekly cap would remain at 48 hours.
Additionally, the quarterly overtime limit is set to increase from 50 hours to 144 hours, allowing employees to work for six hours straight followed by a 30-minute break.
"The extended overtime limit will enable willing workers to earn higher wages, as overtime pay is double the standard rate," he stated, adding that these changes align with recommendations from NITI Aayog and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
The Bill also lifts the restrictions on employing women for night shifts, provided they give written consent and that employers ensure their safety and welfare.
"The government believes these amendments will boost productivity, create more job opportunities, particularly for women, and enhance the ease of doing business in Odisha," the minister remarked.
However, members of the BJD and Congress called for the Bill to be sent to a select committee for further examination.
BJD MLA Dhruba Charan Sahoo expressed concerns, stating, "India, including Odisha, is a welfare state, and the focus should be on worker welfare rather than solely on business interests."
Another BJD member, Sarada Prasad Jena, argued that the proposed increase in working hours contradicts social norms.
"Even Lord Vishnu rests for four months a year, indicating that a person's working hours should be limited to eight," he noted.
Opposition legislators also voiced worries about allowing women to work night shifts, especially in light of increasing crimes against women.
"What happened at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, where a woman doctor was tragically raped and murdered during her night shift, raises serious concerns," Sahoo added.
In defense of the legislation, BJP member Irasish Acharya argued that it would enhance productivity and create opportunities for those willing to work hard.