Odisha's Night Shift Policy Amendments Face Implementation Challenges
In August of last year, the Odisha state government announced a progressive initiative to permit women to work night shifts in factories, private shops, and commercial establishments. Following this announcement, the government amended the Factories Act of 1948 and withdrew Section 23 of the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Act, 2025, formalizing the policy change a month later.
Low Adoption Despite Legislative Changes
On paper, this move was significant, aimed at boosting employment opportunities for women and enhancing the ease of doing business in the state. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that few women are currently opting for night shifts. Women employees continue to express reservations about working during odd hours, with safety emerging as the primary obstacle.
Stakeholders from manufacturing, service, and allied sectors emphasize that safety remains the sole roadblock. Sattwik Swain, Secretary General of the Odisha Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises, highlighted the practical challenges. "The amendments allow night shifts if three women employees show interest, but employers must provide transport facilities. This is feasible mainly in the corporate sector," he explained.
Swain added, "Even if a woman in a factory chooses a shift from 2 pm to 10 pm and transport is arranged, returning home at those hours is not safe. Both employees and employers recognize this risk." He estimates that micro, small, and medium enterprises in Odisha might have only about 1% of women working night shifts post-amendments.
Safety and Family Responsibilities as Key Barriers
This low adoption persists despite a clear need for women in night shifts within labor-intensive sectors such as garments, food processing, and packaging. Shyamali Jena, a worker at a packaging unit in Berhampur, voiced concerns: "Manufacturing units are often located on city outskirts. Even if employers arrange cabs or buses to drop women workers at night, who is accountable for any incidents during the commute?"
Beyond safety, family responsibilities also deter women from night shifts. Rashmi Sahoo, a Cuttack-based entrepreneur who employs over 400 women in food processing and spices manufacturing, noted that despite amendments offering double pay for night shifts, demand remains negligible. "In our plants, women work throughout the day but prefer to end by 8 pm to attend to their families," she said.
Calls for Better Implementation and Policy Refinement
A Rajyalaxmi, Regional Director of the World Trade Centre, believes it is premature to expect immediate change. "Implementation is crucial. Companies are still considering how to employ women in night shifts and need to revise HR policies to make them acceptable to women," she stated.
Rajyalaxmi emphasized that with strict adherence to safety, dignity, and workplace infrastructure standards, the night shift amendments could empower more women to participate across all sectors. This perspective underscores the need for a holistic approach beyond legislative changes to address practical concerns and cultural factors.
The situation highlights a gap between policy intent and ground reality, urging stakeholders to collaborate on solutions that ensure women's safety and work-life balance while promoting economic opportunities.
