Lok Sabha Question No. 241 (STARRED), answered on 2022-03-21
Subject: Harassment of Women in Work Places
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: M. Selvaraj, Behanan Benny

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 241 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2022

## HARASSMENT OF WOMEN IN WORK PLACES

241.  SHRI M. SELVARAJ: SHRI BENNY BEHANAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  taken  measures  to  ensure  safety  of women workers in garment factories in view of the high prevalence of  gender-based  violence  and  harassment  against  these  workers during the COVID-19 pandemic;
- (b)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c)the  number  of  workplace  complaints  received  during  each  of  the last two years and the current year from female workers in garment factories, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BHUPENDER YADAV)

(a) to (c):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (c) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 241 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2022 RAISED BY SHRI M. SELVARAJ AND SHRI BENNY BEHANAN REGARDING HARASSMENT OF WOMEN IN WORK PLACES.

(a) to (c): The  Government  of  India  has  enacted  the  Factories  Act, 1948 which provides for the occupational safety, health & welfare of workers including women workers working in the factories registered under the said  Act.  Specific  provisions  have  been  prescribed  for  the occupational  safety  of  the  workers  at  workplace  including  garment factories  under  Chapter  IV  of  the  Factories  Act,  1948.  The  Factories Act, 1948 and rules framed thereunder are enforced by the respective State Governments through the Chief Inspector of Factories/ Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health. Data relating to workplace complaints  from  women  workers  is  not  maintained  centrally  by  this Ministry.

The Government has also enacted the Sexual Harassment of  Women  at  Workplace  (Prevention,  Prohibition  and  Redressal)  Act, 2013  (SH  Act)  with  the  aims  to  provide  safe  and  secure  work environment to women irrespective of their work status. The aforesaid Act casts an obligation upon every employer/organizations whether in private or public sector employing 10 or more persons, to constitute Internal Committee (IC) for receiving complaints of sexual harassment. Similarly,  the  State  Government  is  authorized  to  constitute  Local Committee  (LC)  in  every  district  which  will  receive  complaints  from organizations  having  less  than  10  workers  or  if  the  complaint  is against employers himself.

The  Government  has  taken  a  number  of  initiatives  in  this regard during COVID-19 pandemic.  The Government has ensured that its  institutions  such  as  One  Stop  Centres  (OSCs),  Universalisation  of Women Help Line (WHL), Ujjawala Homes, Swadhar Greh, Child Care Institutions,  Child  Line  (1098),  Emergency  Response  Support  System (112)  remained  operational  and  available  for  providing  assistance  to women during the period.  During lockdown, National Commission for Women (NCW) also took measures to assist women facing distress.

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