The Uttar Pradesh government has amended labour laws to allow women to work night shifts in factories, including 29 hazardous industries, with their written consent.
This landmark decision, effective immediately after presidential assent, includes crucial safety provisions such as double wages, transportation, CCTV surveillance, and security personnel. The Uttar Pradesh government’s Factories Amendment Act, 2025, permits women to work night shifts from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., subject to their written consent. This amendment came into effect in early November 2025, following the President’s formal approval and subsequent official notification.
Officials emphasise this as a leap towards gender equality and industrial growth; however, women’s rights activists stress the need for vigilant implementation to avoid exploitation and ensure women’s safety at night.
A Bold Step for Women’s Workplace Equality
The Uttar Pradesh Factories Amendment Act, 2025, marks a significant policy shift aimed at modernising the state’s industrial workforce. Labour Minister Anil Rajbhar articulated that the government intends to create a more inclusive labour environment by enabling women to contribute actively during night shifts, previously restricted for safety reasons.
The amendment increases the permissible overtime from 75 to 144 hours quarterly and mandates employers to provide security infrastructure like CCTV cameras, female supervisors, and safe transport options. Women working night shifts will also receive double wages as an incentive and recognition of the challenges posed by night work. Human rights advocates, while welcoming the reform, advocate for strict enforcement and monitoring to prevent any lapse in women’s protection.
Strengthening Safety Measures Alongside Opportunity
Uttar Pradesh’s high female workforce participation, comprising nearly 36% of workers and over a crore women engaged in self-help groups, underlines the importance of this reform. Beyond amending work hours, the state has bolstered its safety ecosystem with initiatives such as the 1090 Women Power Line, Anti-Romeo squads, and a comprehensive network of women police beats.
These steps aim to secure the physical and psychological well-being of women workers navigating night shifts. Employment experts note that extending work hours for women in hazardous industries demands rigorous compliance with safety standards and grievance redressal mechanisms to mitigate risks.
Contextualising the Policy: National and Regional Trends
Historically, Indian states limited women’s night work hours based on concerns related to safety and social norms. However, global and national shifts toward gender parity have prompted states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka to revise such rules.
Uttar Pradesh’s recent amendments align it with this progressive trajectory, complementing the government’s broader focus on industrial growth, job creation, and women empowerment. The move is expected to open up substantial new economic opportunities for women, challenging traditional restrictions without compromising safety.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Logical Indian recognises the Uttar Pradesh government’s move as a progressive and hopeful stride in gender equality within the industrial sector.
Empowering women to work night shifts, while ensuring their safety, reflects an evolved understanding of women’s role in India’s economic development.
Yet, legal reforms must be coupled with cultural change, rigorous enforcement, and community engagement to foster genuinely equitable workplaces. Sustainable progress will come from harmonising opportunity with protection and success with empathy.
CM Yogi Adityanath Ji’s big decision empowering women!
— Mudit Jain (@Mudit0797) November 12, 2025
Now, women in Uttar Pradesh can choose to work night shifts on their own consent, with full safety, double wages, CCTV monitoring, secure transport & health facilities.
A true step towards equality, safety & self-reliance! pic.twitter.com/dEldMouvZF
