Paving way for more women-friendly business

KOCHI: Inaugurating certificate of excellence, a scheme which grades all commercial establishments on the basis of seven different parameters, labour minister T P Ramakrishnan on Tuesday said that employees of small-scale industries will also be included in the scheme. Initially, the government had planned to include establishments with 20 or more employees only.
"For grading, seven parameters that include women-friendly atmosphere, safety of employees, role of the establishment in polishing the skillset of employees among others, will be considered. In the first phase, private hospitals, textile shops, hotels, restaurants, jewelry's, security agencies, IT firms, star hotels and construction firms will be graded," Ramakrishnan said.
He added that cleanliness will also be included as one of the parameters with an aim to protect the people from contagious diseases.
Four stages of inspection and review will be held in grading each establishment.
"Following the rules is important, as it improves the relationship between employers and employees, which in turn will pave way for development and progress of the industry and the state eventually," the minister added.
Additional chief secretary Tom Jose, IAS, while delivering the keynote address said that improving of skillset of employees and ending gender discrimination are two main goals of the grading. "Attitudinal disposition of the society towards women working late night should change, and for that firstly women should be made comfortable at their workplace. Discriminatory laws that forbid women from working after 7 pm should be changed," Jose said.
The grading procedure will be paperless and done online to make the initiative eco-friendly as well, Jose added. Hibi Eden, MLA, labour commissioner K Biju, planning board member K Raviraman spoke at the inaugural event.