Cabinet approves amendment to Shop and Office Employees Act to allow women to do night shifts

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Cabinet of ministers had approved a proposal to amend the Shop and Office Employees (regulation of employment and remuneration) Act to allow women employed in certain sectors to engage in night shifts, the Information Department announced on Tuesday (24).

Women working in information technology companies, knowledge outsourcing, business process outsourcing (BPO), and offices performing accounts, administration and technical activities for foreign businesses could now legally work on night shifts, the Information Department said.

The Attorney General has approved the draft amendments to the Shop and Office Employees (regulation of employment and remuneration) (Amendment) Act, the Information Department said.

The proposed amendments to the Act would be published soon in a gazette, the Information Department said.

The bill will then be presented to parliament.

Sri Lanka’s Shop and Office Employees Act bars women from working in offices at night.