Creating Safe Workplace for Women | 22 Feb 2023

The recent cases of alleged sexual harassment faced by female wrestlers in India have highlighted the lack of functioning internal complaints committees and the need for adherence to the Vishaka guidelines on reporting harassment.

Although a specific offence relating to sexual harassment was added to the Indian Penal Code in 2013, the victim chose not to report the matter to the police, and there was no internal mechanism in place for redressal of complaints.

The Vishaka guidelines, framed by the Supreme Court of India in 1997, must be followed by both government and private institutions and employers should not be allowed to violate the fundamental rights of women at the workplace.

What are the Challenges with Women Workforce Participation?

• Sexual Harassment:
  • In recent years, sexual harassment at workplace is becoming one of the most pressing issues affecting women across the globe.
    • Nearly 31,000 complaints of crimes committed against women were received by the National Commission for Women (NCW) in 2022, the highest since 2014.
      • About 54.5 % of the complaints were received from Uttar Pradesh. Delhi recorded 3,004 complaints, followed by Maharashtra (1,381), Bihar (1,368) and Haryana (1,362).
• Gender Discrimination:
  • Women are often discriminated against in the workplace, whether in hiring, pay, promotions, or opportunities.
• Lack of Diversity:
  • Organizations with limited diversity may lack understanding and empathy for the experiences of women in the workplace.
• Inadequate Support for Working Mothers:
  • Women with children often face significant challenges in balancing their work and family responsibilities.
• Occupational Segregation:
  • Women are often concentrated in low-paying and traditionally female-dominated fields, while men are more likely to work in high-paying industries and professions.

What should be the Way Forward?

• Providing Women-Friendly Infrastructure:
  • It's important to create a physical space that is safe and welcoming for women.
  • This can include separate washrooms, breastfeeding rooms, and appropriate lighting and security measures.
    • It's also important to ensure that the workplace is accessible for women with disabilities.
• Constitution of Internal Complaint Committees:
  • It is important to have a well-constituted Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs) that includes both men and women as members and is chaired by a senior female employee.
    • Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs) are mandatory under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
    • An ICC is responsible for addressing complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace.
• Spreading of Awareness:
  • It's important for employees to be aware of their rights and the procedures for filing a complaint of sexual harassment.
  • Employers should conduct regular training sessions and workshops to raise awareness about the law and the redressal mechanisms available.
  • This can help create a culture of zero tolerance towards sexual harassment and promote a safe and respectful workplace for all employees.
• Addressing the Deep-Rooted Structural and Cultural Violence:
  • Addressing deep-rooted structural and cultural violence is essential for creating a safe and equitable society.
  • Here are some steps that can be taken to address this issue:
    • Education and Awareness, Empowering Marginalized Groups, Policy and Legal Reform, challenging harmful beliefs and attitudes etc.