30 January, 2018
Expenses for Cr.che Facilities to be borne by the Employer
Pursuant to the amendment dated March 31, 2017 to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, employers employing 50 or more employees are mandatorily required to provide a cr.che facility, either separately or through a common facility. On October 12, 2017, by way of a response to a query under the Right to Information Act, 2005, the Ministry of Labour and Employment (‘MoLE’) has clarified that the employer is required to bear the costs incurred in relation to providing such a cr.che facility. Further, on November 17, 2017, the MoLE directed appropriate State Governments to frame and notify rules to ensure effective implementation of the aforesaid provision.
Please refer to the April 2017 edition of Inter alia for details in relation to other amend ments introduced to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 on March 31, 2017.
Launch of SHe-Box
In an effort to provide speedier remedy to women facing sexual harassment at workplace as envisaged under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (‘SH Act ’), on November 7, 2011, the Ministry of Women and Child Development launched a comprehensive SH e-Box online complaint management system (i.e. , http://shebox.nic.in/) for women employed in public and private organisations for the purpose of lodging online complaints of sexual harassment at workplace. Previously, since July 24, 2017, this facility was only available to employees of the Central Government.
Complaints submitted through this portal will be directly sent to the Internal Complaints Committee (‘ICC ’) set up by the employer organisation. Complainants who have already filed a written complaint with the concerned ICC or local complaint committee constituted under the SH Act are also eligible to file their complaint through this portal.
The portal also provides a mechanism for tracking the status of the inquiry being conducted pursuant to the filed complaint.
Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017
Pursuant to notification dated December 19, 2017, the Government of Maharashtra has brought into force the provisions of Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017 (‘2017 Act ’), thereby, repealing the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 1948. Please refer to the October 2017 edition of Inter alia for key provisions introduced under the 2017 Act.
For further information, please contact:
Zia Mody, Partner, AZB & Partners
zia.mody@azbpartners.com
