The Indian government is getting behind women workers, and how. After announcing that it was increasing the maternity leave for women from 18 to 26 weeks, the government now wants to help out women who’ve encountered sexual harassment at the workplace. It has announced that women who work for the central government and happen to experience sexual harassment at work will be entitled to 3 months of paid leave while the enquiry is on. The leave will be in addition to those already given to central government employees.
The move assumes significance as there have been complaints of the accused attempting to influence or threaten their victims. It can also be harrowing to for a woman employee to continue reporting to work and being in the same environment as her attacker while the enquiry is on.
Sexual harassment is pretty broadly defined, and includes physical contact and advances, demand or request for sexual favours, sexually coloured remarks, showing any pornography and any other unwelcome physical, verbal and non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.