Seminar on workplace harassment law held at Sukkur Girls College

SUKKUR, May 12 (APP):An awareness seminar on the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010 was held at Government Girls College Sukkur on Tuesday under the theme “Break the Silence, End Harassment: Speak Up, Stay Strong”.

The seminar was chaired by Muhammad Iqbal Arain, Consultant and retired District and Sessions Judge, Office of the Provincial Ombudsman Sindh, Sukkur.

Principal Government Girls College Fakhar-un-Nisa Baloch, Regional Director Colleges Sukkur Dr Shafiq Ahmed Rind, Deputy Director Colleges Sukkur Abdul Ghaffar Kalhoro, female teachers and a large number of students attended the seminar.

Addressing the participants, Arain said the 2010 law was enacted to protect women from harassment at workplaces and to provide a legal mechanism for redress. “Under this law, any woman subjected to harassment could file a complaint free of charge. Harassment is both a crime and a social evil,” he said.

He said the law was passed by the Senate of Pakistan in 2010 and the Provincial Ombudsman Sindh, Sukkur office, was hearing such complaints and working to provide protection to women at workplaces.

Explaining the procedure, he said that once a complaint was filed, the accused was bound to submit a reply within a specified time. After that an inquiry committee would hear the case and send its recommendations to the Provincial Ombudsman Sindh for a final decision.

During a question answer session, Arain told teachers that if harassment claim was proved, strict punishment could be awarded. “Government employees may face penalties including stoppage of increments, dismissal from service, and suspension of salary,” he said.

He urged the college administration to ensure that all staff members were made aware of the law. He cautioned against misuse of the law, saying genuine cases of harassment should not be distorted.

He added that if a decision was announced against an accused, he could file an appeal. “The appellate committee is bound to decide the appeal within three months,” he informed.