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Summary: The article relates to recommendations to include domestic workers, who comprise 30 per cent of the female workforce, within the ambit of the 'Protection of women against sexual harassment at workplace bill'.
[NEW DELHI, 12 January 2012] - Domestic workers could soon have the right to complain against sexual harassment. The women and child development ministry is likely to review its position and accept the recommendations of a parliamentary panel to include domestic workers within the ambit of the 'Protection of women against sexual harassment at workplace bill'. When asked if domestic workers will be brought within the ambit of the bill, WCD minister Krishna Tirath said, "We are in favour of inclusion of domestic workers in the sexual harassment bill." The ministry is still working on details of how a place of residence will be monitored like an office or institution. The bill provides for a secure working environment for women and mandates setting up of internal committees both in the formal and informal sectors to ensure that complaints are addressed. The ministry's change of stance comes after a parliamentary committee dismissed government's view that there were "practical difficulties'' in implementation of the law within the confines of a home. Domestic workers comprise 30 per cent of the female workforce in the unorganised sector. There are 47.50 lakh registered domestic workers in the country. Incidentally, the National Commission for Women (NCW) - set up for protection of women's rights which works under the ministry of women and child development - also shared the panel's view. The commission said that reservations of enforcing the provisions of the bill within the privacy of the home were "unfounded'' as the Domestic Violence Act had broken this myth allowing legal scrutiny and extending protection to the confines of the home. The committee had received representations from several domestic workers associations including 5,000 postcards advocating "domestic work is work and domestic workers are workers'' for inclusion. The sexual harassment bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 7, 2010 and was referred to the standing committee on December 30, 2010. It submitted its report in the winter session last year. Further Information:
pdf: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-12/india/30618974_1_...