Which of the following options is not correct about the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013? 

The correct answer is 'Workplace' would not include dwelling place or house

Key Points

• Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013:
  • The Act was enacted to ensure a safe, secure, and dignified working environment for women, free from sexual harassment.
  • It mandates the formation of an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) at every office or branch with 10 or more employees to address complaints of sexual harassment.
  • The Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee must be a woman employed at a senior level at the workplace.
  • Every district officer is required to constitute a Local Complaints Committee (LCC) to receive complaints from establishments where the ICC has not been constituted due to having less than 10 workers or if the complaint is against the employer.

Additional Information

• Definition of Workplace:
  • The Act defines 'workplace' broadly to include not just traditional offices, but also any place visited by the employee during the course of employment, including transportation.
  • Significantly, the definition also includes dwelling places or houses, thereby covering domestic workers under its purview.
• Internal Complaints Committee (ICC):
  • The ICC must have at least one external member who is familiar with issues relating to sexual harassment.
  • The committee is tasked with conducting inquiries into complaints, providing recommendations to the employer, and taking steps to ensure that the complainant is not victimized or discriminated against during the process.
• Local Complaints Committee (LCC):
  • The LCC is intended to provide a mechanism for redressal in areas where the ICC cannot be constituted, ensuring that all women have access to a complaint redressal mechanism.
  • The district officer appoints the chairperson and members of the LCC, ensuring representation of NGOs and other bodies working for women’s rights.