Concerned About HDFC Bank's Working Hours for Women in Delhi? Here's How to Address It

I would like to know the working hours for a female employee at HDFC Bank. Please inform me where we can lodge a complaint if the company forces its female employees to work beyond the stipulated hours. I am eagerly awaiting your valuable response.

Working Hours

According to Section 54 of the Factories Act, 1948, an adult worker is not required to work more than 9 hours, and Section 51 prohibits working for more than 48 hours a week.

Working During the Night

Section 66 of the Factories Act, 1948, prohibits working women from 7 PM to 6 AM. However, the State Government may, by notification, exempt any establishment subject to the condition that the establishment provides facilities of transportation and security to such women employees. Not only in HDFC, but across India, no women are allowed to work after 7 PM, which means from 6 AM to 7 PM only and not more than 48 hours a week.

I believe the issue is resolved.

Sincerely,
Satish

According to the new amendment rule, if the company provides pick-up and drop-off facilities, then she can also work during late sittings.

Regards,
Brijesh Saxena

Dear Deeraj,

First of all, HDFC or any other bank is not covered under the Factories Act, 1948. It will be covered under the Shops & Establishment Act. Moreover, it is provided that no establishment shall be opened earlier than 8:30 am or closed later than 9:30 pm (Sec. 13).

It is also provided that no employee shall be required or allowed to work in any shop or commercial establishment for more than nine hours in any day and forty-eight hours in any week (Sec. 14). The spread over of an employee in a commercial establishment shall not exceed eleven hours in any day (Sec. 17).

Furthermore, it is provided that no woman shall be required or allowed to work in any establishment after 9:30 pm (Sec. 33 (3)).

Regards,
Avinash K.

Usually, it is 10 hours a day, including lunch and recreation. You may approach a consumer forum and file a complaint in any case. RBI has a special provision for consumer complaints against banks; you may file there too. [Consumer Complaint in Consumer Forum in India](http://www.consumergrievance.com) (link outdated-removed) ([Search On Cite](https://www.citehr.com/results.php?q=Grahak Seva Jago Grahak Jago) | [Search On Google](https://www.google.com/search?q=Grahak Seva Jago Grahak Jago)); bank employee association, chief labor commissioner; your own bank website may have a provision for complaints.

Personally speaking, many have complained on consumer forums against HDFC, saying they are tortured and made to work for 12 to 14 hours a day, reflecting poor working conditions.

Since HDFC is in the service sector, it is covered under the Shops and Establishments Act of the particular state concerned. As per the latest guidelines by the Honorable Supreme Court, any female employee working during night shifts and after 8 pm, the company should provide transportation and security to her residence. Additionally, the company should ensure a secure working atmosphere at the workplace.

Instead of posting an academic-type generic query, it would have been better if you had mentioned the real problem faced by women employees or any individual employee of HDFC Bank. Also, clarify how you are concerned with the problem. Naturally, as you are not a female employee, it does not seem to be your personal problem. Without specifying the type of problem, as you have seen from the replies, you may receive responses based on different presumptions from members. This could lead to confusion rather than providing a specific solution to the exact nature of the problem faced by women employees or any individual employee of HDFC Bank.