In the wake of the Kolkata rape and murder case, the West Bengal government has issued 17-point guidelines for the safety of women staff in hospitals. However, one of the guidelines to reduce night shifts for women has been severely criticised.
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Regressive attitude towards women
A social organization working for women reacted strongly to this guideline and said that it is based on the same regressive attitude towards women which the guidelines are clearly meant to combat. Some others said that when the source of violence is the workplace itself, why should women be removed from the workplace or the workforce? Another organization working for women said that the guideline is short-sighted, regressive and harmful.
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Guidelines against women’s rights
Social activists said it is the government’s duty to ensure that women can work safely and with dignity anywhere in the state. They also said that doctors, nurses, ASHA workers, gig workers, women in various occupations have to work during the night. They believe that many women will lose their jobs and income if their working hours are reduced. Still some others said the guideline is against women’s rights. Some others said that if the reduction in night shifts is only for women doctors, then the guideline smacks of selective protection for a particular class of women.
