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GoM to form sub-panel on harassment
Why is it in news?
- The Group of Ministers (GoM) formed in the wake of the #MeToo campaign on social media.
- It decided at its first meeting to constitute a sub-committee that will suggest changes to the law on prevention of sexual harassment at workplace as well as ways to strengthen the National Commission for Women.
Sub commitee
- The sub-committee will comprise officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Law and Justice.
- It will be given 10 days to submit its report, according to a government source who requested anonymity.
- In response to a question on measures the government could take to ensure the effectiveness of Internal Committees (IC) appointed to probe complaints of workplace harassment, the source said that the sub-panel will have to examine which body can be empowered to penalise employers if they don’t abide by the law on setting up ICs.
- While the Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (or POSH Act 2013) provides for the setting up of ICs, it doesn’t mention who will penalise employers if they fail to comply.
- It lays down a fine of ₹50,000, but there is no clarity on which authority can impose that.
Source
The HIndu