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The Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday issued a circular allowing women to work in factories in night shifts.
"In 2001, the high court of (united) Andhra Pradesh had struck down section 66 (1) (c) of the Factories Act, 1948 that restricts women from working at a factory between 7 pm and 6 am," a state government release said in Hyderabad.
The move to allow women to work in factories in night shifts comes after an executive from a reputed company at Sri City in Nellore district raised the issue during a business seminar with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday.
The chief minister has directed the Office of the Director of Factories of the state government, to immediately allow women to work in night shifts across all factories in the new state of Andhra Pradesh, with necessary safety and security measures, it said.
Mr Naidu has directed the managements of the factories to ensure all provisions for the occupational safety, health, and equal opportunities for women employees, provision of dining areas, rest rooms, ladies toilets and night creches for their kids, apart from establishing a cell for protection from sexual harassment, the release added.
He said managements should also ensure that women are provided transport from the factory to their residence, the release said.