SHe-Box portal set up for registering complaints of sexual harassment of women employees at workplace, of both Government and Private sector

SHe-Box portal set up for registering complaints of sexual harassment of women employees at workplace,  of both Government and Private sector

More than 350 complaints of inappropriate behaviour received by WCD Ministry including those through SHe-Box portal

In order to ensure the effective implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, the Ministry of Women & Child Development has launched an online complaint management system titled Sexual Harassment electronic-Box (SHe-Box) for registering complaints related to sexual harassment at workplace of all women employees in the country, including government and private employees.

More than 350 complaints relating to inappropriate behaviour have been received in the Ministry which includes complaint received through portal 'SHe- box'.

Ministry of Corporate Affairs has been requested for mandatory disclosure of Internal Complaints Committee (ICCs) in the Annual Report of the Companies. Ministry of Corporate Affairs along with the industry bodies, Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Confederation of Indian Society, Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCI), and National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) have also been requested to ensure effective implementation of the Act amongst their members in private sectors.

This information was given by Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Dr. Virendra Kumar in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

Online complaint management system titled "Sexual Harassment electronic-Box (SHe-Box)" - regarding

Online complaint management system titled "Sexual Harassment electronic-Box (SHe-Box)" - regarding

 

F. No. 11013/7/2016-Estt.A-III
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment A-III Desk

North Block, New Delhi - 110001
Dated 1st November, 2017

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Online complaint management system titled "Sexual Harassment electronic-Box (SHe-Box)" - regarding

The undersigned is directed to say that Ministry of Women & Child Development launched an online complaint management system titled Sexual Harassment electronic-Box (SHe-Box) on 24th July, 2017 for registering complaints related to sexual harassment at workplace. The She-Box is; an initiative to provide a platform to the women working or visiting any office of Central Government (Central Ministries, Departments, Public Sector Undertakings, Autonomous Bodies and Institutions etc.) to file complaints related to sexual harassment at workplace under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

2. Once a complaint is submitted to SHe-Box, it wiil be directly sent to the Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) of the concerned Ministry / Department/ PSU / Autonomous Body etc. having jurisdiction to inquire into the complaint. The She-Box also provides an opportunity to both the complainant and nodal administrative authority to monitor the progress of inquiry conducted by the ICCs. The SHe-Box portal can be accessed at the link given below:

http://www.shebox.nic.in/

3. Features of the SHe-Box are as under:

(i) SHe-Box is an online Complaint Management System for lodging complaints related to sexual harassment of women at workplace. The steps required for filing of complaint through SHe-Box can be downloaded from the link:

http://www.shebox.nic.in/assets/site/downloads/manual.pdf

(ii) Any woman working or visiting any office of Central Government (Central Ministries, Departments, Public Sector Undertakings, Autonomous Bodies an.d Institutions etc.) can file complaint related to sexual harassment at workplace through this SHe-Box.

(iii) Once a complaint is submitted to the SHe-Box, it will directly send the complaint to the Internal Complaints Committee. (ICC) of the concerned Ministry /Department/PSU / Autonomous Body etc; having jurisdiction to inquire into the complaint. The Internal Complaints Committee will take action as prescribed under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 and update the status of the complaint through 'Administrator Login'

(iv) The status of complaint can be viewed at any time by pressing the tab 'View Status of Your Complaint' within SHe-Box.

4. The complaint registered in the She-Box contains only a brief description of the incident of sexual harassment at workplace. The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) is required to initiate inquiry as prescribed under Section 11 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 read with Department of Personnel & Training's  O.M. No. 1l013/2/2014-Estt.(A-III) dated 16th July, 2015 by calling upon the complainant to provide detailed complaint along with all the relevant evidences (documentary or otherwise).

5. All the Ministries/Departments are requested to bring the contents of this OM to the notice of all officers and staff working under them. The Ministries/ Departments are also requested to advise the PSEs / Autonomous Bodies under their administrative control to bring the content of SHe-Box to all officers and staff.

6. Hindi version will follow.

(Nitin Gupta)
Under Secretary to the Govt of India
Tel: 23040264

To
The Secretaries of All Ministries/Departments
(as per the standard list)

Source: DoPT

Maternity Benefit Amendment Act 2017

Maternity Benefit Amendment Act 2017

 

F.No-S-36012/03/2015-SS-I
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment

Sharam Shakti Bhawan, New Delhi
28 August, 2017

To
The Secretary,
Labour Department,
All State Governments/UT Administrators

Subject: The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act,2017

Sir/Madam,
Kind reference is invited to Ministry of Labour & Employment’s earlier letter number S-36012/03/2015-ss-I dated 12.04.2017 (copy enclosed) highlighting the recent amendments made to Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. The Ministry had also clarified therin certain points of doubts to facilitate smooth implementation of the provisions of the said Act, specially in respect of coverage of contractual workers under the Act. This Ministry in the recent past have been receiving a number of complaints and grievances from working women stating non-implementation of the provisions of the M.B. Act including alleged dismissal of few women by the employers in violation of section 12 of the said Act, non coverage of contractual employees, etc. The honourable National Commission for women has also taken serious view of such denial of rights of working women. This Ministry would, therefore, urge all the State/UT Labour Commissioners (which is the implementing authority under the M.B. Act) to effectively enforce the provisions of M.B. Act, and take strict punitive action against defaulting employers and ensure that the provisions of the statute are implemented in true spirit and letter to protect the rights of working women enshrined in the Act.

Yours faithfully
sd/-
(Manish Kumar Gupta)
Joint Secretary, Govt of India

Source: Confederation