Mandatory constitution and registration of Internal Committee under the POSH Act, 2013 compliance directive for private establishments in Mumbai City District

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal)Act, 2013 (“POSH Act”), it is statutorily mandated that every private establishment employing ten (10) or more employees shall constitute an Internal Committee (“IC”) to address complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace.

Further, under Section 26 of the POSH Act, non-compliance with the provisions of the Act specifically the failure to constitute such an IC renders the employer liable to penal consequences, including the imposition of a monetary fine.

In pursuance of the Central Government’s directive to ensure effective implementation of the POSH Act and to maintain institutional accountability, all qualifying private establishments are required to register the constitution of their IC on the SHE-BOX (pre Harassment Electronic Box) Portal maintained by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India.