Delhi govt’s WCD department has issued a strict advisory: women employees must not stay beyond office hours unless unavoidable and branch heads will be personally accountable for their safety. How will this reshape workplace norms?
The Delhi govt issues directive saying women employees do not stay in the office after working hours
New Delhi: The Delhi government’s Women and Child Development (WCD) Department has issued a strict advisory directing all its branches to ensure that women employees are not required to remain in office beyond their designated working hours, except in unavoidable situations.
The move underscores the government’s emphasis on workplace safety, dignity, and well-being of women staff.
According to the advisory, women employees should not be asked to stay late for routine or non-urgent work that can be postponed to the next working day. The department has clearly stated that extended working hours should be permitted only when the nature of the task makes it absolutely essential.
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Branch heads have been instructed to assess in advance whether late working is genuinely required and unavoidable. This step aims to prevent unnecessary pressure on women employees to stay back beyond normal office hours.
In cases where women employees must work late, the responsibility for their safety will rest directly with the concerned branch head or reporting officer. The advisory makes it clear that senior officials will be personally accountable for ensuring safe arrangements for women staff during such situations.
The department has emphasized that responsibility does not end with issuing instructions, but extends to making sure that safety measures are actually implemented in a timely and effective manner.
If late sitting becomes unavoidable, the department has mandated that proper transport arrangements be made to drop women employees safely at their homes or at another secure and convenient location. Officers in charge must ensure that these arrangements are executed without delay and in accordance with safety norms.
Earlier this week, the department had already reminded its branches to guarantee safe transportation for women employees working beyond regular hours, reinforcing the seriousness of the issue.
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The advisory also calls upon all officers and branch heads to adopt a humane, gender-sensitive, and responsible approach while managing staff. It highlights that ensuring the safety and dignity of women employees should remain a top priority in all administrative decisions.
The WCD Department has stated that the advisory must be followed in both letter and spirit. It reiterated that the safety of women employees is non-negotiable and that any lapse in compliance will not be taken lightly. The directive aims to create a safer and more supportive work environment for women across the department.
