The Government of Punjab on November 28, 2025, notified regarding the permission for Employment of Women in Night Shifts in Factories – Revised Conditions and Fresh Exemption Framework.
The State Government has issued a revised notification superseding earlier orders dated February 20, 2014 and October 03, 2023, allowing all factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948 to employ women in night shifts (10:00 PM to 5:00 AM), subject to their consent and strict compliance with updated safety and welfare conditions.
The revised conditions place a strong emphasis on enforcing the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Employers must ensure a safe working environment, display statutory POSH information, conduct regular awareness programmes, support Internal Committee inquiries, assist women in filing legal complaints, treat sexual harassment as misconduct, and monitor timely reporting. Non-compliance will attract penalties under Section 26 of the POSH Act and other applicable laws.
Additional safeguards include proper lighting across work areas, minimum staffing of women in each night shift, CCTV installation with 45-day recording retention, mandatory women security personnel, safe and well-logged transport facilities, prescribed first-aid and medical arrangements, exclusive boarding/lodging for women where provided, and compliance with Sections 57 and 58 of the Factories Act. Factories must also conduct periodic grievance meetings and may employ women fully or partially in night shifts only upon meeting these conditions. Exemption will be auto-granted within 24 hours upon online application with an undertaking, remains valid until revoked with due process, and applies equally to factories already holding prior permissions.
[Notification No.-Labour-Lab0Misc/79/2023/-2L/659]
