Delhi Government takes steps towards ensuring the workplace safety of informal sector women workers

Greetings from Martha Farrell Foundation! Our efforts towards prevention of sexual harassment in informal sector workplaces have been gathering momentum. Recently, on September 10, 2018, we successfully concluded our second in series of state level consultative workshops at India International Centre (IIC) in New Delhi.

The workshop was held in collaboration with PRIA and Shaktishalini and was aimed towards bringing together a list of recommendations to bridge implementation gaps and ensure meaningful compliance of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, Redressal), Act 2013 in informal sector workplaces in Delhi. Shri Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi presided over the event as the Chief Guest.

Shri Manish Sisodia, Hon. Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi (in centre) addressing our Delhi State Level Consultation at India International Centre, New Delhi on September 10, 2018

Over 70 stakeholders from civil society, trade unions, academia, media, informal sector and Delhi State Government joined the consultation to help bring together a list of actionable points for the holistic and meaningful implementation of the Act in all the districts of Delhi.

(The main highlights of the consultation can be read here: http://marthafarrellfoundation.org/mwf-event-detail.php?eid=164)

Shri Manish Sisodia, Hon. Dy CM of Delhi recognized the need for setting up a strong redressal mechanism and said that the LCs will be immediately set up in all the districts of Delhi. We are also delighted to share with you that following his commitment at the consultation on the 10^th, he called for a meeting of all the District Magistrates and officials of the Department of Women and Child Development on the September 17^, 2018. The teams of MFF and PRIA were also present at the meeting. He has ordered all the District Magistrates to properly constitute Local Committees, provide them space from where they can function and mandated all formal institutions and organizations to form their Internal Committees by November 30, 2018.

(The highlights of this meeting can be read here: http://marthafarrellfoundation.org/mwf-event-detail.php?eid=171)

We thank Shri Manish Sisodia, Hon. Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, the media, all our partners and participants for their support. Needless to say, this is a huge victory for informal sector women workers and will go a long way in ensuring their rights and dignity at the workplace.

You can reach us at [email protected] and [email protected]. We thank you again for your continued support.

Sincerely,
Team Martha Farrell Foundation