Cabinet may discuss sexual harassment Bill today

All private sector undertakings,enterprises,institutions,establishments,societies,trusts,non- government organisations,units or service providers carrying out commercial,professional,vocational,educational,industrial,health services or financial activities including production,supply,sale,distribution or service,hospitals and even nursing homes will be covered under the proposed Bill.

The draft Bill includes a new clause,2 (a),which defines aggrieved women,and brings students,research scholars,patients and women in the unorganised sector within it ambit.

Even if a woman is travelling in a chartered bus and faces harassment,she is liable to take help as per provisions of the proposed Bill. However,only domestic helps have not been covered because it is difficult to prove it and we do not want to intrude into the privacy of house members, said officials in the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Once passed by Parliament,the Bill which may be called Protection of Women Against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act,2010 will ensure that every workplace,whether organised or unorganised,should have an internal complaints committee with members nominated by the employer.

In the absence of such a committee,the Bill envisages a penalty,including de-registration of the institution or a fine of Rs 50,000 for the first-time offence.

The district officer will be made liable to see that the organised sector has such committees. For the second offence,the employer will be liable to twice the punishment imposed earlier. The penalty includes withdrawal of licence or de-registration, said another official.