On 6 September, the Tamil Nadu government introduced a bill in the Legislative Assembly, which aims to provide compulsory sitting during their working hours to all shop workers of establishments large and small. The bill was introduced by Labor Welfare and Skill Development Minister CV Ganesan, who said that every employee has the right to sit. He further said that it is important to provide seating arrangement to the employees as standing for long hours while doing their work can lead to serious health concerns.
The minister has sought to amend the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947 by adding a sub-section to provide compulsory seating for the employees. “The premises of every establishment should have suitable seating arrangement for all employees so that they can take advantage of any opportunity of sitting during their work hours and thereby avoid the position of ‘toes on their toes’ throughout the working hours. ” Read proposed section 22-A.
Kerala was the first country to make a provision of compulsory seating arrangement for the employees after protests by women employees of garment showrooms for better working conditions. Consequently, the Government of Kerala amended the Kerala Shops and Establishment Act in 2018 to provide for seating arrangements for all employees.
In an interview with News18, Dr Karunanidhi welcomed the Tamil Nadu government’s latest move to introduce the bill and said that seating arrangement for all employees is an important aspect to give the right to respect to the employees.
The doctor said that standing for a long time not only has physical consequences but also affects the mental health condition of the employees.
“Varicose veins can be caused by standing for hours in a row. Varicose veins are caused by the increased blood pressure in the veins that occurs when standing for several hours in a row. When the valves weaken, blood can pool in the veins. Which can result in serious problems.Also, if a worker has fluctuating blood pressure, taking the pill and standing for hours can lead to unconsciousness.Meanwhile, if a diabetic patient does not eat properly and for a long time If left standing for a long time, they may even become ill or faint.”
Karunanidhi said that beyond the seating arrangement, organizations and companies also have an obligation to provide a good work environment for their employees. “First of all, organizations should provide a good toilet facility especially for women workers. Working hours should also be limited to a maximum of 8 to 10 hours. Good quality and hygienic food should also be provided to the employees.
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