To improve employee safety, especially for women working night shifts, the Chandigarh Administration has issued new mandatory guidelines for companies that provide transport for their staff. The order, announced by District Magistrate Nishant Kumar Yadav under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), sets strict rules for offices, BPOs, call centres, media houses, companies, and their transporters, security agencies, drivers, and guards to ensure safe travel for employees.
The order will take effect from midnight on November 10 and remain in force for 60 days, up to January 8, 2026.
As per the directive, all such organisations must maintain a record of their employees, cab drivers, security staff and contractual workers for access by the police or other government agencies whenever required. Companies are also required to hire security and contractual personnel preferably through licensed agencies and ensure background verification of every employee, including contract staff.
Focus on women’s safety during night shifts
The order puts special focus on the safety of women employees working night shifts. “It has come to notice that certain criminal and anti-social elements look for soft targets, particularly during odd hours. The women employees who travel during late night hours are vulnerable to crime and criminal acts by such elements,” the notice reads.
As per the directive, employers must ensure that women are not made to travel alone with the driver and that a verified security guard or a male colleague accompanies them between 8 pm and 7 am.
“Choose the route in such a manner that as far as possible a woman employee is not the first one to be picked up or the last to be dropped,” the notice mentioned.
Cabs must ensure safe drop at home
Cabs transporting women during night hours must drop them directly at their residence and remain parked until the employee confirms her safe arrival by phone. If a woman’s house is in an area where vehicles cannot reach, a verified guard or male colleague must accompany her on foot up to the doorstep and confirm her safety.
Organisations have also been asked to monitor cab movements to prevent suspicious activities such as deviation from the route or picking up strangers and immediately inform the police of any such incidents. Additionally, all vehicles used for employee transport must be equipped with GPS tracking systems.
