Women harassment: Govt departments, companies asked to display code of conduct
Myra Imran
Islamabad: In a letter issued on Friday, the federal Ombudsperson asked all government departments and private companies to display the code of conduct for Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace and submit the implementation report to the Ombudsperson within fortnight.
The letter introduces the Act to the relevant department which says that the law was promulgated on March 9, 2010 to create safe working environment for women and men free of harassment, abuse and intimidation.
The letter says that all ministries, divisions, departments, corporations or any autonomous or semi-autonomous body, education institutes, medical facilities established or controlled by the federal or provincial government or district government, registered civil society associations, privately managed a commercial or an industrial establishment or institution, a company as defined in the Companies Ordinance 1984 (XL VII of 1984) and including any other registered private section organizations or Institutions are liable to implement the legislation.
The letter asks all above mentioned departments and companies to constitute three members committee of credible persons, with at least one women member as provided in Section 3 of the Act-2010, to address the complaints of harassment as per law, as and when received to ensure that justice is done swiftly and retaliation against the complainants in curbed.
It also orders for adoption of code of conduct prescribe in the law as provided in Section 11 of the Act and displaying copies of the code in English as well as in language understood by majority of the employees at conspicuous place in the organization and the workplace besides informing and educating the employees to make them more aware of the provisions of the Act and to encourage a professional and dignified work environment for the women/men in public and private sectors.
The letter is also copied to the Chief Secretary (Punjab) with the request that all the Deputy Commissioners may be directed to forward the implementation report directly to the Federal Ombudsman Secretariat in order to avoid further delay in implementation of Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010 as the matter has already been delayed and also to the commissioner Islamabad with the request that the report may be furnished to Federal Ombudsman Secretariat within the given time positively.
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