Now equal employment opportunities for women in mines

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Ministry of Labour & Employment has taken a decision in line with the recommendations of the Section 12 committee set up under Mines Act, 1952, and in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Coal, and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to allow the employment of women in aboveground mines including opencast workings between 7pm and 6am to all categories of employees and in belowground working between 6 am and 7 pm in technical, supervisory and managerial work where continuous presence may not be required vide Gazette Notification dated January 29, 2019.

The safeguards like obtaining the written consent of the women employee, deployment in groups of not less than three (3) and provisions for framing and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures on the basis of the guidelines issued in this regard by the Chief Inspector of Mines, have been incorporated.

The Mines Act, 1952, restricted the employment of women in underground mines and also in opencast or aboveground workings of the mine during night hours between 7 pm and 6 am. Several women employees groups, industry and students enrolled with various institutions persuing mining engineering courses at degree and diploma levels have been representing to the government at different forum that women should be provided equal employment opportunity for working in mines. Requests from Mining Companies were also received, according to a PIB release.