The Hindu : Cabinet approves ratification of 1990 Protocol

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 06, 2003

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Cabinet approves ratification of 1990 Protocol

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MARCH 5. In a bid to provide flexibility in employment of women during night shifts in the factories, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Protocol of 1990, which would make it possible for flexible working hours and give exemption to women from prohibitions for night work under certain conditions.

Briefing reporters here, an official spokesman said the Cabinet approved the ratification to the Protocol in the overall interest of utilisation of the installed capacity, promotion of exports and generation of employment opportunities for women.

The Cabinet also approved a Bill to amend Section 66 of the Factories Act, 1948, which among other conditions, stipulates that no woman shall be required or allowed to work in any factory except between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m.

It also provides for adequate safeguards in the factory as regards occupational safety and health, equal opportunity for women workers, adequate protection of their dignity, honour and safety and their transportation from the factory premises to the nearest point of their residence.

It said that the State Government, after consulting the concerned employer or representative organisation of workers, allow employment of women workers between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. in such factory which meet the prescribed conditions specified in the provision.

Visa-free travel

Diplomatic and official passport-holders of India and Indonesia would be able to enjoy visa-free travel in the two countries. The Cabinet gave its ex-post-facto approval to the agreement signed between India and Indonesia on April 3 last year. The agreement would be valid for five years.

Under the agreement, a citizen of one country holding a valid diplomatic or official passport would be exempt from visa requirement while entering, transiting through or exiting from the territory of the other country. However, the facility of visa-free stay would be applicable for 14 days. The Cabinet also approved the proposal to allow the same rate of increment to working journalists as that to non-journalists across the span of revised pay scales for all groups of employees of newspaper industry.

The rate of increment of the working journalists in comparison with the non-journalists for all groups of employees in a newspaper industry will be revised for their benefit as also to establish a rational wage structure.

The Cabinet had accepted all the proposals of the Wage Board for journalists and non-journalists of newspapers and news agencies' employees with the modification that the rate of increment to be given to journalists should be at par with the rate of increment for non-journalists having comparable basic pay.

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