Activists propose amendment in Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act

The Director of Martha Farrell Foundation, Nandita Pradhan has demanded amendments in the existing Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. On July 18, the government reconstituted the group of Union Ministers on the issue of preventing sexual harassment at the workplace.

New Delhi:The debate over the amendment of the Sexual Harassment of Women Act 2013 in the workplace has escalated with the demand for making the workplace safe for domestic workers.

Talking to ETV Bharat, the Director of Martha Farrell Foundation, Nandita Pradhan said that the definition of workplace needs to be expanded with reference to the International Labour Organization Convention (No. 190).

Nandita Pradhan said, "The amendment in the Sexual Harassment Act 2013 is necessary because the process of redressal of their harassment problem is different for those working in unorganized sector whereas the domestic workers are required to file a complaint separately and their problem can not be resolved at regular intervals."

She also said that under the concerned law, committees should be formed at the level of tehsil along with the local committee and any representative of the unorganized sector should also be appointed.

On July 18, the government reconstituted the group of Union Ministers on the issue of preventing sexual harassment at the workplace, which will be chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah.

Other panel members include Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal and Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani.