`50,000 fine for sexual harassment at workplace
Woman employees could soon find themselselves safer at workplaces with the Union Cabinet on Thursday approving legislation providing for a fine of `50,000 on employers who fail to comply with its provisions.
The Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill 2010 is to be introduced in the Winter Session of Parliament starting next week. If approved, the bill will given women protection from sexual harassment at all workplaces, in the public, private and unorganised sector. It does not, however, make any reference to domestic helps.
The bill defines sexual harassment in terms of the Supreme Court ruling in Vishaka vs State of Rajasthan (1997), which includes any physical contact, advances or demand or request for sexual favour, sexually coloured remarks, showing pornography and any other unwelcome physical, verbal, non-verbal contact of a sexual nature.
It also recognises the promise or threat to a woman’s employment prospects or creation of a hostile work environment as “sexual harassment” and expressly prohibits it.
The bill provides protection not only to women who are employed but also to any woman who enters the workplace as a client, customer, apprentice, and daily wage worker or in an ad hoc capacity. Students, research scholars in colleges and universities and patients in hospitals are also covered.
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