Haryana turns new leaf, allows women in all jobs

The male-dominated Haryana has turned a new leaf by allowing women in all occupations, including engineering, manufacturing and hazardous jobs.

A proposal to this effect was okayed at the meeting of the Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini here today. The new regime is set to be accomplished with the amendments to the Punjab Factories Rules, 1952, to permit the employment of women in certain processes in factories where they were prohibited to work earlier.

“The amendment will eliminate gender disparity, expand employment opportunities for women and promote inclusivity in industrial sectors such as engineering, chemicals and manufacturing where women's participation was earlier restricted. It reflects Haryana's commitment to modern labour reforms, empowerment of women and equal opportunity principles enshrined under Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution,” an official spokesman said.

The amendment ensures that pregnant women and lactating mothers are excluded from hazardous employment categories, thereby maintaining the required health and safety protection.

Currently, women are not permitted to clean, oil or adjust a moving machine where there is a risk of injury from its parts, work with cotton openers or lift excessive weights. Besides, there are restrictions on women working in glass manufacturing, handling asbestos and working with petroleum or other hazardous chemicals.

However, the owners of the factories will have to put in place robust safety measures, officials said, adding that the focus was on the employer's responsibility to provide adequate safety to workers.

The Haryana Government had already allowed women to work in night shifts, provided factories meet stringent safety requirements.

Ensuring occupational safety, providing separate transport and maintaining complaint mechanisms will be other aspects which the factory owners will have to take into account in the new regime.