Panchkula Police Asks All Workplaces & Offices to Constitute Sexual Harassment Committee by 15 Dec
- Panchkula. 1Des[ As part of “Orange the World: End Violence Against Women & Girls” Panchkula police today organized a workshop for city’s industrial associations at Mini Secretariat. The aim was to make them aware of their legal obligation under Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 and urge them to constitute an Internal Complaint Committee to inquire into complaints of sexual harassment by employees. “Orange the World: End Violence Against Women & Girls” Explaining to the industrialists and entrepreneurs their legal obligation under the Act, CP said that the Committee needs to have at least two women employees. The law covers all workplace in government and private sector and all kinds’ workers, regular or parttime. The complaint can be filed within three months of the incidence. The committee can try for conciliation or go for an inquiry. The inquiry needs to be completed within reasonable time and submitted to the employers within ten days of its completion. The employer, in turn, is obliged to take appropriate action within seven days. If the inquiry reveals commission of cognizable offense, the committee is required under the law to forward the complaint to police for criminal investigation under sections 294, 509 or 354 IPC, depending on the facts of the reported incident. The CP also called upon the participants to roll out maximum employment opportunities for women and provide them a friendly work environment in terms of utilities and work conditions. He also asked for liberal maternity leave to expecting workers and set up crèches at workplace for young mothers. In case of late working hours, the employers should arrange for the safe transit of women employees to their homes. He said that its after thousand years of struggle that women have come out in the open in large numbers; they deserve a fair chance, equal opportunity and non-predatory work-setting to realize their potential, create value for the society and live a happy and productive life. ACP Purnima Singh in Panchkula is the Nodal Officer of the exercise. All offices and workplaces are required to constitute Internal Inquiry Committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013 and send details to ACP at her email address acpcitypkl@gmail.com By 15 Dec. The effort will help police in differentiating crimes from work-related grievances get for women avenues for grievance redressal and workplaces a mechanism for conciliation and self-regulation. The workshop was well received by the participants. They pledged to employ maximum women in the work place and exercise due diligence as suggested in the workshop and required by law to make work ecosystem safe and friendly for women.
Share
