Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (SR)

Panaji, Aug 12: The Congress party on Sunday, opposed the recently passed amendment by the state government, that allows women to work night shifts. As per Congress, the Factories (Goa Amendment) Bill, 2019, which was recently passed by Goa legislative assembly, is in direct conflict with the provisions of the Centre’s Factories Act, 1948.

State Congress president Girish Chodankar in a letter written to governor Mridula Sinha, urged her to withhold assent to the Bill and instead refer it to the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. Chodankar said, the Congress party was 'deeply distressed' with the Factories (Goa Amendment) Bill for its 'legal and social' repercussions. In the letter Chodankar claimed, that the Central Act does not permit women to work beyond 10 pm. “The Central Act says that no woman shall be required to work in any factory except between the hours of 6 am and 7 pm.”

“Once the governor is aware that the state legislation seeks to amend a central statute and is directly in conflict with the provisions of the central statute, it is the duty of the governor to withhold assent and refer the issue to the President,” Chodankar added.