The State government informed the House on Thursday that the consent of women would be made mandatory before letting them work in night shifts in different industries. Amidst opposition demands that the Bill seeking an amendment to the Factories and Boilers Act, enabling women to wok during night shifts be referred to the Select Committee, the House passed the amendment by division. The Bill was passed by 26 votes with 5 against. 
Former Minister for Factories and Boilers and GFP MLA Vijai Sardesai, who was instrumental in introducing the amendment, during his tenure, supported the government and voted in favour of the Bill. NCP MLA Churchill Alemao also supported the Bill, while MGP MLA Sudin Dhavalikar voted against it. 
Dy CM Chandrakant Kavlekar had moved the amendment to Factories (Goa Amendment) Bill, 2019, for passing on the floor of the House, which faced objection from the opposition benches. Opposition MLAs including Congress’ Pratapsingh Rane, Reginaldo Lourenco, Ravi Naik and Dhavalikar demanded that the Bill be referred to the Select Committee. They raised serious concern about safety of women working at night in the industries and also about the increasing working hours of the male workers.