Do not extend the working hours deadline for women employees in IT/ITES establishments

Sub: On Proposal for extending the working hours deadline for women employees in IT/ITeS Establishments

With reference to the news report published in The Hindu, dated 22 September 2011, IT Companies in Karnataka have adopted a resolution urging the Government to extend the working hours deadline for women employees from the existing 8.00 PM to 10.00 PM.

Currently women can be employed in IT/ITeS establishments during night subject to the condition that the establishment provides facilities of transportation and security to such women employees.

It seems that extension of working-hour deadline will only help IT/ITeS establishments to abstain from their responsibilities of transportation and security for women employees till 10 pm.

We would like to recall the gruesome murder of Prathibha, a BPO employee on Dec 13, 2005 and many other crimes reported. Many women employees work at far off places from their place of stay and it would be extremely difficult and dangerous to travel after 8.00 PM to reach far off places.

At the time when security concerns are becoming alarming in Bangalore and time of journey is increasing, IT/ITeS Employees Centre (ITEC) urge the state government on behalf of the IT/ITeS/BPO Fraternity to refrain from the move to extend working-hours deadline.

Yours Faithfully,

For ITEC