Peshawar: A meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights chaired by Munir Hussain Laghmani reviewed in detail the proposed amendments to Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010.
Members of Provincial Assembly Ali Hadi, Askar Parvez, Faiza Malik, and Saeeda Sonia Malik attended the meeting besides secretary law, officials from the relevant departments.
The committee deliberated extensively on bringing the law in line with current social, professional and digital requirements and addressing practical ambiguities in its implementation.
The proposed amendments include expanding the definitions of ’employee’ and ‘student.’ Under the proposed changes, temporary, part-time, trainee, intern, volunteer, and freelance workers, as well as individuals associated with various educational and training institutions would also be provided legal protection.
Similarly, it has been proposed to broaden the definition of ‘workplace’ to include virtual and digital environments, remote and work-from-home arrangements, online platforms, events organized by employers and other locations related to employment or training. This would ensure effective protection for women against harassment in the changing work environment.
The committee also emphasized the need to make the complaints mechanism more effective and accessible. The proposed amendments include extending the time limit for filing complaints, allowing condonation of delays, empowering authorities to obtain and examine digital and electronic evidence, addressing malicious complaints and protecting complainants against retaliation.
Other proposals under consideration included expanding the powers of the Ombudsperson, introducing appropriate penalties, establishing an appeals mechanism, ensuring administrative and financial autonomy, providing free legal assistance, establishing a helpline and strengthening awareness programs.
Chairman of the Standing Committee directed the relevant authorities to further refine proposed amendments while taking into account all legal, administrative, and practical aspects and ensuring their alignment with the relevant directives of Supreme Court.
The chairman and members unanimously expressed their agreement with the proposed amendments and recommended that the draft amendment bill be forwarded for necessary further proceedings.
