2. SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN
AT WORKPLACE ACT, 2013
(Prevention, Prohibition &
Redressal)
Updated on April 16th , 2015
3. BACKGROUND OF THE ACT
3
YEAR EVENT AUTHORITY
2007 Draft guidelines approved Union Cabinet
2010 Bill introduced Lok Sabha
2012 Passed by Lok Sabha
2013 Passed By Rajya Sabha
2013 Received President’s Assent Published in Official Gazette
4. Chapter
I : Preliminary
II : Constitution of Internal Complaints Committee by an Employer
III : Constitution of Local Complaints Committee by District Officer
IV : Complaint
V : Inquiry into Complaint
VI : Duties of Employer
VII : Duties & Powers of District Officer
VIII : Miscellaneous
4
CHAPTERS OF THE ACT
5. Extends to whole of India
Every organization who has more than 10 employees.
APPLICABILITY
WHO CAN BE AN AGGRIEVED PERSON?
Anyone who is a Female
Irrespective of age
Status (single, married or divorced)
Whether an employee of the
organisation
or an outsider
5
6. 5
Types of
Sexual
Harassment
Demand or
request for
Sexual Favors
Threat about
employment
status
Promise for
Preferential
treatment
Detrimental
treatment
Humiliating
treatment
which affects
her health
Offensive of
hostile
environment
Physical
Contact &
Advances
Unwanted
physical,
verbal or non
verbal conduct
of sexual
nature
Showing
pornography
Making
Sexually
colored
remarks
7. ICC
(Minimum 4)
Presiding Officer
(Must be Women)
Other Members
One person from NGO
committed to cause of
women or
familiar with issues relating to
sexual
harassment on allowance basis
•Atleast ½ of the committee members shall be
women
INTERNAL COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE (ICC)
•Employer with more than 10 employees in writing shall pass an
order to create ICC at all branches & act on its recommendation.
6
8. Constitution of
LCC
(5 Members)
LOCAL COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE (LCC)
Must be
Women
Chairperson
Eminent Social
person working
for the cause of
Women
Working in
the nearby
area
Belonging to the
Schedule Caste or
Tribe or
Backward Class
May or May not be
Women
Ex- Officio
Concerned officer Dealing
with social welfare or
women & child development
in the area
Have law
or
• Nodal officer within 7
days
legal knowledge
7
District Officer shall create LCC to receive complaints from:-
•Where ICC has not been set due to less than 10 employees in the
organisation
•If complaint is against the employer
9. The Presiding Officer or the Chairperson
and other members of ICC & LCC
shall hold office for such period not exceeding 3 years
from the date of appointment as prescribed by the Employer or the District
Officer as the case may be.
8
the public
interest
TENURE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
WHO CANNOT BE A PART OF THE COMMITTEE?
Contravenes section 16
Convicted for an offence or enquiry under any law is time being pending against
him/her.
Has been found guilty or disciplinary proceeding is pending against her
Has abused his/her position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to
10. Need to make in writing (6 copies) along with supporting documents with the
name and address of the witnesses.
within 3 months
of the incident or
from last instance in case of series of incidents
The Committee
shall assist the aggrieved person to make the complaint in writing.
can extend the time for filing complaint if it is satisfied with the
reason for the delay
If she is unable to do so due to mental or physical incapacity then the legal heir
or the person as may be prescribed may make a complaint under this section.
9
COMPLAINT
11. Within 3 months
of the last instance Aggrieved shall give written complaint
Within 7 days
the Committee shall send a copy of the complaint to the respondent
Within 10 Days
from receipt of the complaint Respondent shall file a reply along with documents,
name & address of the witnesses
Within reasonable time period
The committee shall give the recommendations
10
Within 90 Days
An Appeal can be filed against the recommendation
PERIOD IN WHICH THE COMPLAINT NEEDS TO BE SET
OFF!!
12. At the request of the aggrieved women take steps to settle the matter between
her and the respondent through conciliation before making an enquiry.
Though no monetary settlement shall be considered
Post settlement ICC or LCC shall record the settlement
Send the same to the employer or the District Officer to take action as specified in the
recommendation.
Committee shall also provide the copies of the recorded statement to the
aggrieved women and the respondent.
Where an settlement has arrived no further inquiry shall be made by the
committee
COMPLAINT SETTLEMENT THROUGH CONCILIATION
12
13. In case the respondent is an employee the committee shall proceed in
accordance with the service rules.
where not available or applicable shall forward the complaint to the police under 509 of
the Penal Code and relevant provisions within 7 days if prima facia case exist.
Also if the complainant informs the committee that any terms or condition of the
settlement has not been complied then the committee proceed to make an enquiry
or forward the complaint to the police
If both are employees then opportunity to be heard shall be given equally
13
INQUIRY INTO COMPLAINT
14. Notwithstanding anything contained in the section 509 of the Penal Code may direct the
respondent to pay sums as it may appropriate to the aggrieved women having regard to
section 15
During the pendency of an inquiry the committee may recommend:-
Transfer the aggrieved women or the respondent to new work place
Grant leave to the aggrieved up to a period of 3 months which shall be in
addition to the leave entitled to her
Grant any other relief as may be prescribed
Employer shall implement upon the recommendation and send a report to the
committee
INQUIRY INTO COMPLAINT
14
15. Within 10 days of completion of the enquiry the committee shall provide report to the
employer or district officer as the case may be and should be available to the concerned
parties
If the committee arrives at the conclusion that the allegation has not been proved it shall
recommend to take no action.
15
INQUIRY REPORT
RESPONDENT PROVED GUILTY
Take action in accordance with the provisions of the service rules
applicable, where no such rules has been made, in such manner as prescribed
To deduct from the salary or wages or direct such sum as it may consider
appropriate to be paid to aggrieved or her legal heirs in accord with sec. 15
The concerned authority shall act upon the recommendation within 60 days of its
receipt.
16. If false complaint made or any forged documents being produced the committee may
recommend to take action as per the service rules or as otherwise prescribed.
But if the complainant is unable to provide adequate proof then no action is to be taken
The malicious intent shall be established after an enquiry in accordance has been
made with the prescribed procedure.
Committee arrives at an conclusion that during inquiry false evidence has been
produced then it may recommend action against the witness as per service rule or as
prescribed
IF ALLEGATIONS PROVED TO BE WRONG
16
17. Committee shall need to have regard to:-
The mental trauma, pain suffering and emotional distress caused to the
aggrieved
The loss in the career opportunity
Medical expenses incurred post the incident
Income & financial status of the respondent
Feasibility of such payment in installment or in lump sum
SECTION 16 (MAINTAINENCE OF SECRECY)
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Right to Information Act
The Complaint
Identity & Address of Aggrieved, respondent and witness
Information relating to the conciliation, Inquiry and recommendation by the
committee
SECTION 15 (DETERMINING OF SUMS TO BE PAID)
16
Action taken by employer or District Officer
Shall not be published, communicated or made known public, in
media in any
manner
18. Safe Working Environment and safety
from
persons coming into contact at the workplace
Display
The penal consequences of sexual
harassment
Order constituting the Committee
Organize workshops and awareness
programs at regular intervals
Providing necessary facilities to the
committee for dealing with complaint and
conducting an inquiry
Assist in securing the attendance of witness
& respondent before the committee
18
DUTIES OF EMPLOYER
19. DUTIES OF EMPLOYER
19
Make such information available to
the committee as it may require in accordance
with the complaint lodged
Provide assistance to the aggrieved if
she wishes to file the complaint under Indian
Penal Code or any other law in force
Treat sexual harassment as a misconduct
under service rules and initiate action for
such misconduct
Monitor timely submission of report by the ICC
Cause to initiate action, under the Penal Code
against the perpetrator in the workplace
where the incident took place
20. Monitor the timely submission of reports furnished by the LCC.
Take such measures as may be necessary for engaging NGO for creation of
awareness on sexual harassment and the rights of the women.
20
DUTIES OF THE DISTRICT OFFICER
NON COMPLIANCE OF THE ACT
Monetory penalty of upto maximum of Rs. 50,000/- may be imposed.
Repetition of the same could result in punishment being doubled and/or
De-registration of the entity or revocation of any statutory business licences.
21. The committee in such form at such time as prescribed, an annual report and
submit the same to the employer or the District Officer
District Officer shall submit the brief report on annual report to the State
Government.
The employer in his annual return shall include the number of cases filed if any and
their disposal under this Act, where no such report is required to be prepared
intimate such number of cases to the District Officer
The appropriate Government shall monitor the implementation of this Act and shall
maintain data on the number of cases filed & disposed in respect of all cases of sexual
harassment at workplace
20
MISCELLANEOUS
30. It is common everywhere so what is the BIG DEAL here
• Its USA (The land of opportunity)
• Its Hollywood
• Global Attention
• More than 85 Accusers
• Most of the women are either Oscar Winner Or Nominated
• Highest paid Actress
• Highest paid Models
• “#Me Too” Campaign
STILL THEY ARE FACING PROBLEMS
41. Source: Annual Reports, Business Responsibility Reports of companies, Mint
Research
https://www.livemint.com/Companies/wLYIP2JEyNHUPBEGNJenkL/What-does-
data-say-about-sexual-harassment-in-Indias-top-co.html
44. The need for the law was always there however there are few things
which we thought that should have been considered:-
Gender Equality – can a man not be sexually harassed?
If no educated women is there in the organization who then shall be the
Presiding Officer of ICC generally in unorganized sector
We have a concern that ACT shall be limited to mere paperwork in Small and
Medium Business House.
Instead of having individual ICC an agency could have been hired on an AMC basis
Online portal for registering the complaint in the LCC
Evidence!! Seriously?? How can the female be aware about mis happening that
shall happen. Sometimes it takes place so quick that the person is in the
traumatized form herself
Conclusion