Collective effort needed to protect women at workplace: Tirath

There is a need for collective initiatives to ensure protection of women against sexual harassment at the workplace, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath said today.
"Sexual harassment reflects the patriarchal mindset and the gender bias in the society....Society should come forth and take collective initiatives for the successful implementation of the new legislation for the protection of women against sexual harassment at workplaces, Tirath said.
The path breaking legislation, Sexual Harassment of Women at workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, provides comprehensive remedies and relief to victims, she said.
Tirath was speaking at the inaugural function of a two-day workshop on prevention of sexual harassment of women at workplace organised by Standing Conference on Public Enterprises (SCOPE), in collaboration with International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Quoting the Vishakha judgement by the Supreme Court, she said that it was an important development, more than 16 years ago, for the fundamental rights of women at workplace.
The Minister further said that the Act not only defines sexual harassment but also creates mechanism for redressal of complaints.

She highlighted some of the provisions of the Act like formation of Local Complaint Committee within the organisation, completion of enquiry within 90 days, vesting of complaint committee with the power of a civil court, etc.
ILO Director Tine Staermose said that sexual harassment at workplaces is a growing concern at national and international level.

"Sexual harassment undermines the enterprise which in turn undermines the productivity," she said.