Right To Sit To Be Mandated In Tamil Nadu:
The Tamil Nadu government has tabled a Bill in the Legislative Assembly making it mandatory for establishments to provide seating facilities for employees. It is popularly being called the “Right to Sit”.
Right to Sit:
- It is aimed to benefit thousands of employees of large and small establishments, particularly those working in textile and jewelry showrooms.
- The bill mandates for every premises of establishments to have suitable seating arrangements for all employees so that they may take advantage of any opportunity to sit in the course of their work.
- The bill seeks to amend the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947, by adding a sub-section.
- Persons employed in shops and establishments in the State are made to stand throughout their duty time resulting in varied health issues.
- Most owners of shops and other retail outlets forbid women, the bulk of the shop workforce, to sit. Even leaning against a wall was punished.
- They had developed varicose veins and joint pain from standing.
- Right to Sit would avoid the ‘on their toes’ situation throughout the working hours.
