Currently, the law prohibits a woman from working between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. during summer and between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. during winter.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has approved amendments to the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954, to allow women to work on night shifts in establishments. The file has been sent for Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena for his approval, a source at the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said on Tuesday.
On June 30, at a meeting chaired by the L-G and attended by the CM and other Ministers, directions were given to allow women to work at night shifts by amending the Act, according to the source.
Currently, the law prohibits a woman from working between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. during summer and between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. during winter.
“To implement this decision [to allow women], exemptions are being made under the Act. The forthcoming amendment will remove the restrictions, thereby enabling women to work night shifts across the city,” a statement from the CMO said on Tuesday.
Women safety
However, to safeguard women working in night shifts, a comprehensive set of conditions will be mandatory for all establishments and a prior written consent of women employees will be required. “Workplaces must have CCTV surveillance, female security guards, and secure transport facilities. Each establishment must also constitute an Internal Complaints Committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013. Furthermore, restrooms, toilets, lockers, and other basic amenities must be provided,” the statement said.
The CM said the amendments to the Act would play a pivotal role in establishing Delhi as a 24×7 business hub.
Similar laws to allow women to work in night shifts are already in place in States such as Haryana, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, the statement said.
The previous Aam Aadmi Party government had proposed the Delhi Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Rules in 2023 to allow women to work night shifts. However, the Delhi police objected to it, citing safety concerns, and it was never implemented, an official said.
Published – July 30, 2025 01:03 am IST