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Women can now make men behave at workplace... the hard way!

Unsavoury and sexist remarks, innuendoes, forcible physical touching and jokes likely to cause embarrassment are all forms of sexual harassment at workplace, the National Commission for Women has ruled.

In a code of conduct for workplace released in New Delhi, the NCW said it was binding upon all organisations, whether government or private, to set up complaint committees for investigating charges of sexual harassment.

The Supreme Court had last year directed the Commission to formulate such a code to protect women in offices.

While several government and public sector undertakings had taken the lead in setting up complaint committees, the private sector was lagging behind, NCW member-secretary Binoo Sen and advisor Padma Seth said.

As per the SC order, women would head the complaint committees, which would have at least half its strength from the fair sex. Institutions like non-governmental organisations would also find representation in the committees.

Describing sexual harassment as a serious criminal offence that could destroy human dignity and freedom, the Commission said it would be the employer's duty to prevent or deter such incidents at work place.

A recent NCW survey had found that at least 50 per cent of working women face mental or physical harassment.

The Commission would circulate the code of conduct to all government departments and private organisations through corporate bodies like the Confederation of Indian Industry and ASSOCHAM.

''Sexual harassment of an employee means use of authority by any person in charge of the management or any person employed by it to exploit the sexuality or sexual identity of a subordinate employee to harass her in a manner which prevents or impairs the employee's full utilisation of employment benefits or opportunities,'' the NCW code defines.

Giving details about the complaint committee, the Commission said any aggrieved person should make a complaint at the earliest or within 15 days from the date of occurrence of the incident. It should contain all relevant details of the incident. The committee would then hold an enquiry and submit its findings to the head of the organisation, recommending the penalty to be imposed. The head of the organisation shall, after giving a hearing to the offender, submit the case to the management.

The management would then confirm, with or without modification, the penalty recommended.

UNI

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