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With the change in current corporate governance environment, POSH Act is becoming a part of the ESG: Former DG, UP Police
May 12, 2023
FICCI - SS Rana & Co Report 'Women Safety at Workplace' launched
NEW DELHI, 12 May 2023: Ms Sutapa Sanyal,
Former DG, UP Police yesterday highlighted various aspects of POSH
(Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace) Act 2013 and said that
sexual harassment does not have one dimension; it's a multi-layered issue.
Addressing the FICCI
Workshop on Women Safety at Workplace, Ms Sanyal mentioned that with
the change in the environment of today's corporate governance, issues like the
POSH act are becoming a part of the ESG.
Ms Jayanti Dalmia, Immediate Past
President, FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO) and Adviser Dalmia Brothers Private
Limited said, "Ensuring women's safety in the workplace requires a
comprehensive approach involving various stakeholders, including employers,
employees, and policymakers."
Mr Vikrant Rana, Managing Partner, SS Rana & Co said, "Organizations have a duty toward their employees to provide a conducive and productive workplace." He elucidated on lack of awareness of POSH Law, the intrinsic features of the POSH Law in India and as to how POSH Law is also an essential ingredient of Diversity & Inclusion. Mr Rana's presentation was followed by a captivating session on "Theory and Background of the POSH Act, 2013" by Ms. Anuradha Gandhi, Consultant (D&I and POSH), Managing Associate at S.S. Rana & Co.
Some focal points where the Workshop touched upon included, awareness about sexual harassment at workplace, understanding of the POSH Act, behaviours that are actionable under the POSH Act, compliances and penalties and mock trials. Numbers are indicative as to how sexual harassment at workplace is a critical concern and to ensure utmost safety at workplace it is imperative that organizations and employers take steps towards preventing acts of sexual harassment at workplace.
To ensure safe workplace, it is important to sensitize and raise awareness about laws that prevent sexual harassment at workplace. Hence, the Workshop aimed at educating and sensitizing the attendees, such as ICC Members, HR professionals, administrative heads, safety and security heads about the complaint mechanism under POSH, compliances for employers, penal consequences, complain redressal mechanism under the POSH Act.
The Workshop also comprised Mock Trials depicting complaints of various categories, such as a genuine sexual harassment complaint, false / malicious complaint and misunderstanding / misrepresentation. The mock trials were conducted before a panel of IC members that included professors from Law Schools, In-House Counsels, HR of companies, CEOs etc.
FICCI-SS Rana & Co Report on Women Safety at Workplace was released during the program. The Report is a compendium about the laws and issues pertaining to sexual harassment at workplace and the POSH Law in India. Considering the dearth of existing literature on the subject, the Report addresses myriad critical concerns emerging from sexual harassment at workplace.
Key Highlights of the Report :
- Definition of Sexual Harassment
- Scope And Applicability of the POSH Act 2013
- Complaint Mechanism
- Complaint Committee(s) Under the POSH Act
- How Does the Inquiry Flow
- Relief and Compensation
- Are You Posh Compliant?
- Role of Various Departments and Government Bodies
- Posh and Gender Inclusion
- Interconnection with Other Applicable Laws
- Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace in
Other Countries:
- POSH Act and the Unorganized Sector