PARLIAMENT PASSES
SEXUAL HARASSMENT BILL
Expressing
concern at the increase in sexual offences against women, the Rajya Sabha on
February 26, 2013 approved the amended Sexual Harassment of Women at Work place
(Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Bill), that seeks to provide protection
to women in organised and
unorganised sectors including the private sector. The Bill covers sexual harassment of
domestic help and agricultural
workers.
The Bill, which had 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.
HIGHER PENALTIES
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.
0 comments:
Post a Comment