Taking note of the inordinate delay in carrying out amendments by the labour ministry in laws concerning women, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked the ministry to expedite the process.
The direction came after Singh reviewed the progress made by various ministries in the last two years while addressing the issue of women's empowerment, both social and legislative, media advisor to the prime minister Sanjaya Baru told reporters in New Delhi on Thursday.
"It was noticed that one area where not much progress has been made is the labour laws which are waiting to be amended... The prime minister has drawn the attention of the ministry towards it and we hope it will be done soon," he said.
There is a long list of labour laws, amendments to which have been sought by the National Commission for Women and these include Equal Remuneration Act, Maternity Benefit Act, Factories Act, Interstate Migrants Act, Child Labour Act and Bonded Labour Abolition Act, he said.
Observing that enhancement in women's status in society and protecting her rights were among the priority areas under the Common Minimum Programme of the United Progressive Alliance government, Baru said, legislations pertaining to both the areas have been taken up from time-to-time.
Giving the details of various legislations which were either enacted or were in the process of being introduced in Parliament, he said while Domestic Violence Act was legislated in September 2005, amendments to the Sati (Prevention) Act have been referred to the Cabinet by the ministry of women and child development.
On other laws, Baru said the WCD ministry was in consultation with the law ministry about amendments in the Indecent Representation of Women Act, adding this will include the portrayal of women in advertisements, films and television programmes.
While the Cabinet has approved amendments in Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act as suggested by the ministry, a draft has been prepared on Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace, which will be taken up in Parliament, he said.
On the legislations prepared by the ministry of health and family welfare, he said amendments have been notified to MTP Act, 1971 and the Prenatal Diagnostics Techniques Act.
A new Bill has also been forwarded by NCW seeking compulsory registration of marriages, he said.
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