I am a woman and want to work the night shift in a factory in Kolkata, is it allowed and what conditions apply?

Night shift work for women is permitted under the Factories Act, 1948, as amended, and the West Bengal Premises Tenancy Act 1997 rules, subject to conditions prescribed by your state government. The employer in Kolkata must provide safe transport from the establishment to the doorstep, ensure sufficient women security personnel, and maintain adequate lighting and CCTV coverage. The Calcutta High Court has upheld the validity of night shift for women, provided statutory safeguards are complied with. Consent of the woman worker is mandatory, and no woman can be forced to work the night shift. The state may prescribe specific hours between which night work is permissible and may require prior approval of the Chief Inspector of Factories. The establishment must also ensure creche facilities and rest rooms for women workers on the night shift.