A staggering 40% of working women experiencing workplace insecurity are unaware of the protective measures offered by the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, according to a report.

The report by a corporate training and development company emphasises the urgent need for a transformative approach to ensure workplace safety.

Only 42% of employees possess a thorough understanding of the POSH Act, revealed the report.

This lack of awareness among employees, as highlighted by the research, underscores the imperative for enhanced education on the Act’s provisions.

The report also exposes prevalent misconceptions within organisations, where compliance with the Act is often seen as a mere checkbox rather than a genuine commitment to fostering a safe environment for women.

Surveys indicate that 53% of HR professionals are confused about the Act.

Furthermore, the research found that HR managers are concerned about the underrepresentation of women and the tendency to downplay harassment issues within senior management.

“As a woman, I feel India still has a long way to go when it comes to bridging gender disparity. In many ways, we’re still a patriarchal society. Protecting women at the workplace should be a basic expectation but unfortunately, many organisations treat this at a very cosmetic level,” said Pallavi Jha, chairperson and managing director of the research company, in a statement.

The research reveals that owing to constraints such as a lack of senior women representation in Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs), among many others, have left much to be desired when it comes to implementation and adherence to the POSH Act.

It also underscores the crucial role of training sessions that go beyond legal literacy, addressing procedural aspects and fostering a preventive culture.

The report urges a proactive response from organisations, and advocates immediate measures to address the gaps identified.

It emphasises the importance of workshops, guidance, and a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment.

Do you know about the Vishakha guidelines?

The Vishaka Guidelines were a set of procedural guidelines for use in India in cases of sexual harassment.

As per Vishakha guidelines, all workplaces should have an appropriate complaints mechanism with a complaints committee, a special counsellor, or other support services.

A woman must head the complaints committee, and no less than half its members should be women.

The committee should include an NGO or individual familiar with the issue of sexual harassment.

The complaint procedure must be time-bound, and the confidentiality of the plaintiff should be maintained.

Complainants or witnesses should not experience victimisation or discrimination during the process.

(With inputs from IANS)

For more such updates and news on the go, follow us on Instagram | YouTube | Facebook