the goan I network
PANAJI
The Goa government on Saturday issued a directive to all government departments, public and private organisations and institutions warning that failure to constitute Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs) at the workplace will attract penalty as prescribed under section 26 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
It further warned that any failure to comply with the provisions of the Act in this regard even while constituting the said committees will attract penalty as per the provisions of the Act.
The government statement noted that the sexual harassment of women at workplace is a violation of women’s right to gender equality, life and liberty. A Writ Pet. (Civil) 1224 of 2017 is filed before the Supreme Court, to ensure the implementation of the in the States/Union Territories.
The Act ensures a safe working environment for women and provides protection to women at their workplace from any form of sexual harassment and for redressal of any complaints of harassment.
As per the provisions of Section 5 of the Act, the District Magistrate of North and South Goa are appointed as District Officers while all the Mamlatdars/ Chief Officers of respective taluks/municipalities are appointed as Nodal Officers for their respective jurisdiction.
As per the provisions of Section 4 of the Act, every department/Organization/undertaking/industrial establishment, educational institutions/ private sector organization, hospitals, sport institutes, etc., are required to form ICCs.
These ICCs should comprise a ‘Presiding Officer’ who will be a woman employed at a senior level at the workplace from among the employees; not less than two members from among employees preferably committed to the cause of women or who have had experience in social work or have legal knowledge and one member from among non-governmental organizations or associations committed to the cause of women or a person familiar with the issues relating to sexual harassment.
The Committee constituted will be in force for a period of three years and subsequently must be re-constituted. As per the provisions of Section 21 (1) of the Act, the ICCs are required to submit Annual reports to the respective District Officer.
As per the provisions of Section 19 of the Act, the employer is required to create awareness programmes at regular intervals, display the gist of the provisions of the Act, etc.
All those establishments which are required to constitute such committees are also requested to ensure the constitution/re-constitution of the ICCs at the workplace while complying with the necessary information to their respective District Officers.
Stakeholders who have not complied may forward a copy of the Constitution of Internal Complaint Committee within 15 days from March 24.
