Govt decision that lets women sit at work gets a standing ovation

Kozhikode: The recent cabinet decision to amend the Kerala Shops and Establishments Act, by ensuring the right of women to sit down during work, has been historic, says Penkoottu, a women collective.

The collective, formed to address issues faced by women working in various shops at S M street in Kozhikode, said women employees should also get time to relax during work.

P Viji, who staged an agitation in 2014, demanding the right to sit (Irikkal Samaram) during the long duty hours, said the employees rarely got time to sit down even when a chair was offered.

“It is the duty of the government to ensure that the employers make seating arrangements for its employees to relax during work. The employees must be given a short break to relax after standing for more than four continous hours. We are yet to read the conditions in the amended Act,” says Viji.

In 2010, Asanghatitha Meghala Thozhilali Union (AMTU) a collective of unorganized workforce, was formed under Penkoottu for the rights of unorganized sector employees. The union was instrumental in the fight for proper toilet facilities for women working in S M Street. This protest was the front-runner of the agitations in the state by women textile employees under 'Right to sit’ campaign.