Women Employees Should Not Be Detained After Office Hours Without Necessity, Delhi Government Directs

The Delhi Government has issued clear directions stating that women employees should not be stopped at the workplace after the completion of their official working hours unless there is a compelling and unavoidable requirement. The advisory has been issued by the Department of Women and Child Development to all its departments and affiliated offices, with the objective of ensuring safety, dignity, and a supportive work environment for women.

 

According to the directive, women employees should be required to stay beyond their scheduled office hours only in exceptional circumstances where work exigencies make it absolutely necessary. In such cases, departments and employers will be responsible for ensuring the safety of women employees, including arrangements for secure transportation to their homes.

 

The department has emphasised that forcing women to remain in office without valid reasons is unacceptable and undermines their safety and well-being. Several instances have been reported where women employees were made to stay late even when there was no urgent work requirement. The government has made it clear that such practices must be discontinued immediately.

 

The directive further states that if a woman employee is required to work late, it will be the responsibility of the employer or organisation to ensure that she is safely dropped home. Ensuring a secure and respectful work environment has been identified as a core responsibility of the employer.

 

Officials from the Women and Child Development Department noted that women’s safety and equality at the workplace are of paramount importance. Departments have been instructed to put systems in place to prevent unnecessary late working hours and to strictly monitor compliance with the advisory.

 

The government has reiterated that women employees should be detained at the workplace after office hours only when it is genuinely required for work-related reasons. The move is aimed at preventing misuse of authority, promoting gender-sensitive workplace practices, and reinforcing the commitment to women’s safety and dignity in professional spaces.

 

The directive is expected to strengthen workplace safeguards for women and encourage departments and organisations to adopt more responsible and empathetic administrative practices.