Policy For Female Employee In Retail Sector

Hi everybody,
I am Monika G. working in a retail sector. Can anybody guide me out to form policy for Female employee working at Company shops in different Malls & shops.
I want guidelines on the following points:
1) Working conditions for female employees
2) If an employee is pregnant. (Materinity policy)
Please help me out on the above subject as I have to prepare this policy urgently.
Thanx
Monika

Hi Monica,
You need to check statutory provisions ( governed by prevailing labor legislations) like Shops and Commercial Establishment Act, Maternity benefit act, ESI Act etc. I would suggest you to consult a Labour Law expert before releasing the policies

Dear Ms. Monika,
working conditions what i presume is that you need to provide proper resting room, dining room, seperate toilet facilities. And other statutory provisions meant for emplopyee on the whole( since as per the shops and establishement act, there is no differenciation between and female workers)please refer section 17 to 41 if the act.
As far as during pregnancy, if your establishment is coverd under ESI then the act will take care of the maternity leave. Otherwise the employee will coverd under the maternity benefit act 1961.
If you need any further clarification pl contact me at [Login to view]
with regards
michael nicholas

Dear Monika,
Men and women are almsot same today, if we see from the professional point of view, but legally, Government has different laws for men and women. There are certain timing before and after which women cannot work in office, shops and malls etc. (Please refer Bombay Shops and Commercial Establishment Act for working hours, timings, leaves and other benefits etc.)
Regarding maternity benefit, if you're registered with ESIC, the maternity benefit will be provided to the employee through ESIC. Please refer another post of mine for maternity benefit.
<link outdated-removed>
I am also associated with another Retail giant, we have different different shifts, morning, general and evening, but we call female employees in general shift only.
warm regards,
Umesh Chaudhary
(welcomeumesh@yahoo.com)

Dear Umeash,
Female employees not necesarily be employed only in general shift. Madras High Court inits judgment has said that female employees can also work 24 hrs and for the second and third shifts appropriate safety, and provacy provisions should be provided. Now the parliament is contemplating a change in this regard , in Factories act, favourign female employees to work in second and third shifts.
Thanks and kind regards
Michael Nicholas