India government has excluded domestic helps -- among the sections most vulnerable to sexual harassment -- from the purview of the Bill that the Union Cabinet cleared here on 4th november 2010 for protection of women against sexual harassment at workplace.
The Bill, which is likely to be tabled in the winter session of Parliament, mandates that women subjected to sexual advances -- verbal or physical -- are within their right to complain against her colleague. A person found guilty of sexual harassment is likely to face financial penalties besides loss of employment and, in case of a graver offence -- a police complaint.
In order to address complaints related to sexual harassment, the Bill envisages formation of committees in each organisation, which has more than 10 workers or a local committee at the level of district or sub-district if it is an organisation with less than 10 people.
In the organised sector, employers will be expected to set up a complaints committee, including senior officials in the company preferably with experience in social work, legal knowledge or committed to the case of women, besides a member from an NGO. At least half of the total members should be women.