Understanding the Sexual Harassment Policy: Where and When Does It Apply at Work?

Please tell me about this act "Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal Policy against Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace."

1. Applicability? In which organization does this act apply?
2. In what cases does this act apply?

This act aims to prevent, prohibit, and provide redressal for cases of sexual harassment of women in the workplace. It applies to all organizations, both public and private, and covers all cases of sexual harassment that occur within the workplace or are related to work responsibilities.

Overview of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act

The Act on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace was passed in December 2013. It applies to all establishments and factories where women are working. The Act provides for the redressal of sexual harassment in the company by forming an Internal Complaints Committee and establishing a procedure for filing and dealing with complaints of this nature. It outlines what constitutes "sexual harassment." The Act was enacted to replace the Vishakha guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court of India, ensuring a work environment for women that is free from sexual harassment and creating a hostile-free work atmosphere in accordance with the fundamental right to carry on any business, trade, or profession.

Requirements of the Act

According to the Act, it is mandatory for all organizations to have an Internal Complaints Committee comprising half women, headed by a woman, and it can include a lawyer conversant with labor laws as its external member. Orientation programs and workshops on the awareness and training of the Act must be conducted on an ongoing basis to sensitize all employees to the provisions of the Act. The penal provisions of the Act are stringent. An annual report is required to be sent to the Authority, and quarterly meetings of the ICC are to be organized.

Regards

Hello Sakshi,

Kindly follow the series of articles that come out on LinkedIn Pulse every Thursday to learn more about the PoSH Act 2013. I will be discussing various aspects in detail, and you can ask me any questions you may have.

Link to my LinkedIn Pulse articles: [https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/0_0fDL4V21A5rr41eM8KH1tj?trk=prof-sm](https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/0_0fDL4V21A5rr41eM8KH1tj?trk=prof-sm)

Best regards,
Sreevidya Varma
[LinkedIn Profile](https://in.linkedin.com/in/vidyavarma)
Email: sreevidyavarma@gmail.com
Phone: +91 9902749923