Labout Dept. asserts that night-shift safeguards for women employees is covered under OSH Rules

Following an outcry from KITU, the Karnataka Labour Department has clarified that the safety conditions relating to women employees that were earlier provided under the Shops and Commercial Establishments Act have been incorporated under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Rules

Published - September 16, 2026 12:53 am IST - Bengaluru

Since most IT companies employ 10 or more workers, such establishments generally fall under the provisions of the OSH Code, it notes. | Photo Credit: file photo

Following objections by the Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees’ Union (KITU) to the omission of several clauses of the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, which the union alleged would remove several safety measures for women working night shifts, the Karnataka Labour Department has clarified that safety conditions relating to women employees that were earlier provided under the shops and commercial establishments Act have been incorporated under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Rules.

‘Women’s safety not compromised’

The State government brought amendments to the Act, 1961, via a notification dated September 4, 2026. This, according to the department, was done in accordance with recommendations of the Deregulation Cell, Union government, and in view of the implementation of the new Labour Codes.

Following this, the union alleged that the deleted rules included mandatory verification of drivers, authorised pick-up and drop routes, confidentiality of women employees’ contact details, and so on. Department officials, however, dismissed such fears, noting that all the provisions, claimed to be omitted, are covered under the Occupational Safety, Health (OSH) and Working Conditions Code. Both the union’s concerns and the official’s response were reported by The Hindu.

“It has been reported in the news article and raised by the IT employees’ union that certain safety conditions relating to the employment of women have been removed from the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961. In this regard, it is clarified that the removal of such provisions from the shops and commercial Establishments Act does not mean that safety protections for women employees have been withdrawn,” read a statement issued by the Labour Department.

According to the department, under the amended provisions, establishments employing fewer than 10 workers will continue to be covered under the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, while those employing 10 or more workers will be covered under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH Code), subject to its applicability.

“The establishments employing 10 or more workers are governed by the OSH Code and the corresponding State Rules. Further, the safety conditions relating to women that were earlier provided under the Shops and Commercial Establishments Act have been incorporated, wherever applicable, under the OSH Rules, along with additional safeguards for women employees working during night shifts and in dangerous operations,” reads the statement.

Since most IT companies employ 10 or more workers, such establishments generally fall under the provisions of the OSH Code, it notes.

Published - September 16, 2026 12:53 am IST

Terms & conditions | Institutional Subscriber

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.