The Hindu 27.02.2013
Parliament passes Bill to prevent sexual harassment at workplace
Expressing concern at the increase in sexual offences
against women, the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday approved the amended Sexual
Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal)
Bill, that seeks to provide protection to women in unorganised and
organised sectors including the private sector. The Bill covers sexual
harassment of domestic help and agriculture workers.
The
Bill, which has already been passed by the Lok Sabha, was approved
unanimously after Minister of State for Women and Child Development
Krishna Tirath gave an assurance to the House that stringent rules would
be framed to ensure that the Bill was not just “another piece of
legislation’’ without an implementation mechanism and effective
monitoring.
Cases of sexual harassment of women at
workplace will have to be disposed of by in-house committees (that must
be set up) within a period of 90 days failing which a penalty of Rs.
50,000 would be imposed.
Repeated non-compliance with
the provisions of the Bill can attract higher penalties and may lead to
cancellation of licence or registration to conduct business.
Sexual
harassment, says the Bill, includes any one or more of unwelcome acts
or behaviour like physical contact and advances, a demand or request for
sexual favours or making sexually coloured remarks or showing
pornography.
The acts or behaviour whether directly,
or by implication, include any other unwelcome physical, verbal or
non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.
The Bill makes
it mandatory that all offices, hospitals, institutions and other
workplaces should have an internal redress mechanism for complaints
related to sexual harassment.