Legal Protections Against Sexual Harassment In The Unorganised Sector
- IJLLR Journal
- Jan 9
- 1 min read
Siddhi Poddar, Vaani Parashar & Purva Parashar, Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad
ABSTRACT
This paper evaluates the prevalent issue of sexual harassment faced by women in the unorganised sector of the economy in India. Even with the presence of legal frameworks such as the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, women present in the industry still continue to experience and face harassment due to improper enforcement mechanisms and a lack of awareness. This research involves a critical analysis of the landmark cases revolving around this issue. The research employs empirical methods by a critical analysis of the various cases over the years; analysing them and drawing relevance with the challenges faced by the women in the industry. The research throws light on the socio-economic vulnerability that reduces women in the unorganised sector particularly susceptible to abuse. The study divulges that imbalance in power and hierarchy at the workplace, informal mode of work arrangement, and further a fear of job loss, prevents many potential victims from reporting harassment. Through this critique of the issue, it can be imbibed that there is a strong need for advocacy of legal protections, and it can be achieved through the mentioned plausible solutions through policies, institutional support systems, and awareness programs, that safeguard the rights of women in the construction sector. The paper overall focuses on gender justice and protection of women against the offence.
Keywords: Legal Protections, Sexual Harassment, Women, Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, Unorganised Sector.
