India, July 30 -- In a city that sleeps in patches but works round the clock, Delhi is finally preparing to let its women work through the night - legally and safely. In a landmark decision to boost women's workforce participation, the Delhi government on Tuesday approved changes to the law that will allow women to work night shifts in shops and commercial establishments for the first time since 1954.

To make this possible, the government has proposed a stringent safety framework: compulsory transportation, comprehensive CCTV surveillance, and deployment of female security personnel, among other measures. The move comes with legal safeguards, such as mandatory consent from employees and protection against dismissal for refusal to work ni...