Karnataka stays night shift ban

NIGHT SHIFTS: The Governor had sent a letter asking for the ban to be reconsidered.

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New Delhi: The Karnataka Cabinet has put on hold the ban on women working in night shifts. The Governor had sent a letter asking for the ban to be reconsidered.

Earlier, the Karnataka Government had notified a law that barred organisations from employing women after 2000 hours IST and stipulated fines for violation of the rule.

Women working in IT and biotechnology sectors, hospitals and other essential services are exempt from the ban. State Labour Minister Iqbal Ansari had on May 4 said "the aim" of the law is to "check rising crimes against women".

The jurisdictional labour officers will have power to compound the offences punishable under this act or the rules made there under, the bill says.

Employers violating the law can be punished with imprisonment of three to six months or with a fine of Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.

The sources said the law published in the gazette will be forwarded to Law Department for notifying rules.