New Delhi, June 19: Seeking to address gaps in workplace safety and strengthen protections against sexual harassment, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has issued a nationwide advisory directing all states and Union Territories to ensure strict implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
The advisory, issued on Friday, calls for immediate measures to improve compliance with the POSH Act across government, private, organised and unorganised sectors, with a focus on strengthening accountability, grievance redressal mechanisms and institutional safeguards for women in workplaces across the country.
The Commission has communicated the advisory to Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of all states and Union Territories. It has also forwarded the directions to District Magistrates, Senior Superintendents of Police and Commissioners of Police to facilitate implementation at the district level.
NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said workplace safety and dignity are fundamental to women’s participation in economic and social life. She stated that effective enforcement of the POSH Act is both a legal requirement and a collective responsibility towards ensuring equal opportunity and empowerment for women.
Among the major recommendations, the Commission has asked states to establish dedicated POSH Monitoring Cells or digital compliance dashboards to track implementation of the law. State governments have also been advised to conduct regular reviews at senior administrative levels and facilitate capacity-building initiatives to improve compliance.
The advisory recommends mandatory annual POSH audits for all establishments employing ten or more persons. These audits will assess compliance with statutory provisions, the functioning of Internal Committees, complaint-handling systems, confidentiality safeguards, workplace safety measures, awareness programmes and utilisation of the SHe-Box platform. Audit reports are to be submitted to district authorities and concerned departments, with failure to conduct audits being treated as non-compliance.
To strengthen district-level oversight, the Commission has recommended the notification of District Officers under the POSH Act in every district. These officers will function as nodal authorities responsible for implementation, monitoring, awareness generation and grievance redressal.
The NCW has further directed government departments, public sector undertakings, boards, corporations, educational institutions, hospitals, local bodies, statutory authorities and all establishments employing ten or more persons to constitute Internal Committees in every office, branch and unit. The advisory stresses that such committees must be formed in accordance with statutory requirements, including the appointment of a woman Presiding Officer, qualified members, an external expert and at least 50 per cent women representation.
Recognising the challenges faced by women in the informal sector, the Commission has emphasised the effective constitution and functioning of Local Committees in every district. These committees will address complaints from domestic workers and women employed in establishments with fewer than ten employees.
The advisory also calls for the appointment of Nodal Officers at block, tehsil, taluka, ward and municipality levels to facilitate complaint registration and referral to Local Committees. States have been asked to ensure that information relating to committees, complaint procedures, contact details and grievance mechanisms is prominently displayed.
The Commission has urged employers to ensure timely disposal of complaints, maintain confidentiality, conduct awareness programmes and implement recommendations of Internal and Local Committees within prescribed timelines. It has also stressed regular training, workshops and sensitisation programmes to promote gender-sensitive workplaces.
Special attention has been directed towards educational and healthcare institutions, including universities, colleges, schools, hostels, coaching centres, hospitals and medical establishments, considering the vulnerability of students, trainees, interns, research scholars and contractual personnel.
The advisory also highlights the need for safeguards against retaliation and victimisation of complainants, witnesses and committee members. Through these measures, the Commission aims to strengthen workplace accountability and ensure safer, more inclusive working environments for women across India.
