Anti-harassment laws enforcement stressed
The office of the Punjab Ombudsperson Against Harassment at Workplaces has warned the public and private offices to implement the rules and regulations laid out in the anti-harassment act.
Both the public and private sector institutions have been directed to place banners and panaflex signs at prominent sites to sensitise workers regarding the law, according to a circular issued by the ombudsperson.
The ombudsperson has issued a circular in this regard to the heads of all government and private of private institutions. The letter said that the women staff at the workplaces were now protected under The Punjab Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Amendment) Act, 2012.
Read: Police extend coverage of anti-harassment app
Under the Act, strict punishments have been proposed against the people involved in harassing women at workplaces or forcing them to befriend could face heavy penalty, halt in promotion, demotion, and dismissal from jobs.
The institutions have been directed to place banners and panaflex at prominent sites to sensitise workers regarding the law. The offices must constitute inquiry committees for harassment at the workplace and display the code of conduct for the protection of women from harassment at the workplace on their premises.
The victim can lodge a complaint with the harassment committee, competent authority, or Punjab women ombudsperson through written or online complaint.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 15th, 2021.