KITU flags deletion of women’s night-shift safeguards; Labour Dept. says OSH Code covers them

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The IT/ITeS sector in Karnataka employs a large number of women, many of whom work late nights. | Photo Credit: file photo

The Karnataka State IT/ITeS Employees’ Union (KITU) has condemned the omission of several clauses of the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act through an amendment, which the union said would remove several safety and security measures for women working night shifts.

The Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Act, 2026 (Karnataka Act No. 38 of 2026) was published in the Gazette on September 4. The government, however, has said that these safeguards are now covered under other provisions.

According to the union, the deleted rules included mandatory verification of drivers, authorised pick-up and drop routes, confidentiality of women employees’ contact details, restrictions on pick-up and drop sequences, security guards in specified situations, random vehicle checks, a control room or travel desk to monitor vehicles, and an emergency mechanism for women employees.

“The IT/ITeS sector in Karnataka employs a large number of women, many of whom work late nights. Safe transportation and effective security mechanisms are basic, non-negotiable conditions for women’s equal participation in the workforce. Removing these statutory safeguards places greater risk on individual women employees while reducing the accountability of employers at a time when it should be strengthened, not diluted,” the union said in a statement.

KITU demanded the immediate withdrawal of the amendments deleting Section 25(1)(h)– (o) and the restoration of all statutory safeguards governing women’s night-shift transportation and security.

However, speaking to The Hindu , Labour Department sources noted that all the provisions are covered under the Occupational Safety, Health (OSH) and Working Conditions Code.

“The shop and commercial establishments Act now cover only establishments employing less than 10 people. Other establishments are covered under OSH. So all these provisions would be covered under the OSH Code,” an official explained.

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