Bill to protect women from harassment at workplace

Government will introduce the much-talked about bill for the protection of women from harassment at workplace in the Rajya Sabha during the winter session which begins from November 22.

"Protection of Women from Harassment at Workplace Bill has been passed by the Lok Sabha and will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha in the next session," Union Minister Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath said this while inaugurating Vatsalya Mela at Dilli Haat here Wednesday.

The bill, passed in the Lok Sabha in the last session amidst din in September, seeks to protect women, including domestic workers, from sexual harassment at workplace.

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2010 makes it mandatory that all offices, hospitals, institutions and other workplaces should have an internal redressal mechanism for complaints related to sexual harassment.

Under the proposed Act, sexual harassment 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.

Non-compliance with the provisions of the Act shall be punishable with a fine of up to Rs. 50,000. Repeated violations may lead to higher penalties and cancellation of licence or registration to conduct business.

The minister also said amendments are also being brought to the Juvenile Justice Act which will make it stronger. A Women’s Helpline on the lines of Childline is on the anvil.

"These also reflect the demand of the society to deal with crimes against women and children," she said, according to a government release.