Mandatory Registration Of Internal Complaints Committee Established Under Sexual Harassment Of Women At Workplace (prevention, Prohibition And Redressal) Act, 2013. – Parinam Law Associates

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (hereinafter referred to as the “POSH Act” has been introduced with the objective of preventing and protecting women against workplace sexual harassment and to ensure effective redressal of complaints of sexual harassment. The Act requires every employer having 10 (ten) or more employees (including workers engaged through a contractor) to set up an Internal Complaints Committee (*ICC*) to receive, investigate and redress grievances of workplace sexual harassment in a confidential and time bound manner. The Act also prescribes the constitution and quorum for the committee, process and timelines for the inquiry and obligations of the employer and the committee.

MAHARASHTRA

The Government of Maharashtra in order to give effect to the POSH Act, issued a Government Resolution dated 19* June 2014 (said “GR*) directing all organizations having 10 or more employees to constitute an ICC as per the POSH Act. The District Women and Child Development Office (Mumbai), Government of Maharashtra, in furtherance to the said GR, by its circular dated 23* March 2017 (“Circular“), mandated, that all organizations having 10 or more employees should constitute an ICC and register the details of the ICCs constituted by them in the prescribed format (Annexure – A) as given in the Circular, on or before 20th July 2019 with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Fort, failing which, a penalty of INR. 50,000 (Rupees Fifty Thousand Only would be levied on the employer.

TELANGANA

Similarly, the Women Development and Child Welfare Department, Government of Telangana has issued a notification wherein the establishments in Telangana employing 10 (ten) or more employees are now required to register their ICC with the State She-box portal on or before 15 July 2019 failing which, a penalty of INR 50,000 (Rupees Fifty Thousand Only) would be levied on the employer. The establishments can register themselves using the following website https://tshebox.tewdcw.m

As the deadline for registering the details of the ICC is fast approaching, establishments in the state of Maharashtra and Telangana are advised to register themselves prior to 20* July 2019 or 15 July 2019 respectively