In view of the fact that out of the total 59.54 lakh women employees in the organized sector (DGE&T: Annual Employment Review, 2011) there were 27.83 lakh women employed in the private sector, which is continuously registering an increase of 5.4 per cent. Member, Dr. Charu WaliKhanna was special speaker at programme jointly organized by Voith Industries Pvt. Ltd. and Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and Industries, to address the needs of security of this large workforce of women who have the right to work in a safe environment and enjoy equal pay, benefits and opportunities for advancement.

As a part of their social responsibility the Voith Industries Pvt. Ltd. coordinated with Volkswagen Automobile Industry (Chakan Plant) for programme on ‘Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace’ on 23.07.2014.

The workshop was attended by representatives from legal department, union presidents, academy, ICC Members, external affairs and HR department.

Dr. Charu WaliKhanna, in her address said that sexual harassment at the workplace infringes the fundamental right of a woman to gender equality as guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution of India and her right to life and live with dignity, under Article 21, which includes right to a safe, environment free from sexual harassment.

She also spoke extensively on rights and problems of working women, need for gender sensitization and women’s vulnerability to sexual violence etc.

Member gave a presentation on the prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace and also shared details and the salient features of “The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013”. She reiterated that every employer / organization is required to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee for effective redressal mechanism, of which, not less than half of it members should be women. She said that it has been observed that most organizations / institutions have constituted an ICC, but either the committee is only on paper and not visible or it has not been constituted as per the guidelines. She added that the law requires the ICC be headed by a woman, half the members should be women and there should be inclusion of a third party / NGO, who is accessible, approachable, committed, sensitive and understanding.

Another programme was organised on the same day by Voith Industries Pvt. Ltd, multinational with worldwide operations having paper, (prints RBI currency), hydro, turbo and industrial services divisions; alongwith Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and Industries. Participants included representatives from the automobile industry (FIAT India Automobiles Limited), Vishay Components India Pvt. Ltd, NGOs, Voith employees among other stakeholders. Member, NCW said it is important that the Chairpersons/Members of the ICC be trained on how to conduct an inquiry and what procedure to follow. Training programmes are essential to sensitise/train members to recognise sexual harassment, deal with it when it occurs and prevent it.

Grey areas like protection of interns was discussed and NCW publications on the topic were distributed. Queries from participants relating to format of reporting in the annual report and procedure of inquiry by the ICC were addressed.

Member stressed on the duties of the employer as envisaged in the Act that such as providing safe working environment at the workplace which shall include safety from the persons coming into contact at the workplace; displaying at any conspicuous place in the workplace, the penal consequences of sexual harassments; and the order constituting, the Internal Committee under sub-section (1) of section 4.

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