IT firms told to provide transport to ferry women staff after 8.30 pm

Hyderabad: The Cyberabad Police on Wednesday issued a circular to Information Technology (IT) and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) companies under its Commissionerate limits to ensure compulsory transportation to women employees working in their organisations beyond 8:30 pm.

According to Cyberabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar, they have noticed that some women employees in IT and ITES companies are leaving office without availing office cabs and going to meet friends, attending dinners and parties and during that time they are allegedly found to be not accessible on phone even to family members. Worried family members are approaching police to register a missing case, he said.

Against this backdrop, Sajjanar said that all companies must provide company transport to women employees. All employees should keep their family members, friends or colleagues informed whenever they move out of office after office hours without availing office transport facilities.

They should also sign a declaration if they are not availing the transport on any particular day that they have informed their family about their whereabouts. In case of any distress it is requested to reach out to 100 or on Cyberabad Police WhatsApp No 9490617444.

By taking safety concern of women into consideration, police issued circulars to the companies as per the GO MS No 51 dated June 16, 2016 under 3(V) of Labour Employment Training and Factories (Labour Department) which states that in case of women employees who are required to work beyond 8:30 pm, transportation arrangements are to be made to the women staff by the organisation. A notice to this effect, in Telugu and English, has to be exhibited at the main entrance of the shop and establishment indicating the availability of transport.