Chandigarh, July 19: New regulations have been introduced in Chandigarh regarding night shifts for female employees. According to the new rules, companies, factories, and commercial establishments will not be able to assign night duties to female employees without their written consent. Additionally, employers are required to provide pick-and-drop services for these employees.
The Chandigarh administration has drafted the Chandigarh Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Rules, 2026, which outline new regulations for all employees. Under these rules, no employee can be employed without an appointment letter. Existing employees who have not yet received their appointment letters must be issued one within three months of the rules coming into effect.
Furthermore, employees will not be allowed to work more than 48 hours a week. The draft of these regulations is currently open for public feedback before implementation. These new rules aim to modernize employee safety, health, and working conditions in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
Key Benefits of the New Rules:
1. Focus on Women’s Safety and Convenience: Written consent from female employees is mandatory for night shifts, and employers must provide free pick-and-drop services. Adequate lighting, CCTV surveillance, and security measures must be in place at workplaces. At least three female employees must be present in underground mines, and pregnant or breastfeeding women cannot be assigned hazardous tasks.
2. Annual Medical Check-ups for Employees: All employees aged 40 and above will receive a free medical check-up once a year, while those engaged in hazardous work will undergo health checks every six months.
3. Mandatory Appointment Letters: Every employee must receive an appointment letter detailing their name, date of birth, position, skill category, salary, allowances, and benefits like EPFO-ESIC.
4. Overtime Compensation: Employees cannot work more than 48 hours a week, and overtime will be compensated at double the regular wage for hours exceeding this limit.
5. Online Registration for Institutions: All institutions must register online with the labor department, with registration fees based on the number of employees.
6. Formation of Safety Committees: Institutions with 500 or more employees must establish safety committees to identify potential hazards and suggest safety measures.
7. SMS Alerts for Attendance: In institutions with over 100 employees, biometric attendance systems will send SMS alerts to employees’ mobile phones upon clocking in and out.
8. Defined Dependent Criteria: Only individuals with a monthly income of ₹15,000 or less from all sources will qualify as dependents.
These regulations are expected to enhance the working conditions and safety of employees in Chandigarh.