Labour Minister Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando has issued a special gazette notification allowing women employed in sanitation and catering services to work at night.
This new permission has been granted by making an amendment to the Shop and Office Employees Act.
Accordingly, employers are now able to employ women who have completed the age of 18 years between 6.00 pm and 6.00 am the next day.
However, the gazette notification has imposed several mandatory conditions for the welfare of women employed in night work. Accordingly,
Employers must meet the requirements such as providing suitable accommodation and transportation facilities for women employed in night work, ensuring the health and safety of the employees and the general welfare.