How the new labour framework reshapes women's work—and safety realities

Across India, “night work” for women is shifting from exception to policy—especially in sectors built on round-the-clock operations (ITES, logistics, warehousing, retail, and manufacturing).

- TDG NETWORK

Under the new labour framework being rolled out, official communication emphasizes that women can work at night and in all types of work, but with guardrails: consent and required safety measures.

On paper, the logic is straightforward: if jobs and growth are 24x7, women should not be structurally excluded from the best-paid shifts, overtime, and supervisory experience. The friction is that “permission” is not the same as “power.” In practice, women weigh opportunity against late-night transport, childcare, safe facilities, family negotiation, and how the workplace responds when something goes wrong.