THE government passed a law almost two years ago to prevent sexual harassment of women at workplace, but many women working in offices still lack knowledge of how to get legal help when faced with such a situation within the department or office. Those who faced harassment at workplace also often remain silent due to fear of stigma.

Listening to the narrative of a young girl working as a clerk in a provincial government department about her harassment by a co-worker, one could see how helpless she felt. She said nothing came out of her complaint and the same guy still worked in her office.

The girl says she brought the issue to the notice of the officer as she was not aware that such complaints were supposed to be filed in writing. Like traditionally such matters are discussed in offices with higher authority concerned, she did the same and was assured verbally of security against the accused.

No action was taken according to the law against the accused as the inquiry committee worked more to bury the issue. She was also issued a warning letter apparently for another official negligence.

Many working women like her who are not aware of their rights and protection under the law against harassment find no serious action taken against the accused.

Moreover, inquiry committees also get bribed or influenced by the accused. Often complainants are forced for a patch-up and the matter is hushed up.

Why women lack a voice against such crimes? The reason is that the situation of the working women is already weak as many do not confide with their family members if they are faced with problems like sexual harassment at workplace for fear of dire consequences or aggravation of the matter.

In a situation, where inquiry committee at the department could come under influence, there is a dire need of a provincial ombudsperson who could take notice of such complaints. Moreover, there is need for publicising the law and how it benefits women. Mostly, women and young girls who have to go to workplaces using public transport face such problems, but they are the ones who still do not where to file their complaints.

Awami National Party provincial president Senator Afrasiab Khattak told a women’s gathering on International Women’s Day that the province would soon have its female ombudsperson to listen to women’s complaints.

There is a federal ombudsperson which is looking into such complaints. There is no such authority to take action on such complaints at the provincial level though the Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010 says that respective “governments shall appoint an ombudsman at the federal and provincial levels”.

Though the Act makes it mandatory that “each organisation shall constitute an inquiry committee within 30 days of the enactment of this Act to enquire into complaints under this Act”, many organisations still do not have such a committee.

“The committee shall consist of three members, of whom at least one member shall be a woman,” the Act demands.

The law imposes penalties like withholding promotion or increment; stoppage at an efficiency bar in the time-scale; and recovery of the compensation payable to the complainant from pay or any other source of the accused. Major penalties include reduction to a lower post or time-scale; compulsory retirement; removal from service; and fine. The law also says that a part of the fine can be used as compensation for the complainant.

Despite so much relief to the women under this Act, many still are not able to even file their complaint properly as their own department and inquiry committee at times get so much under the influence that a female worker is at disadvantage if she files complaint.

The law may provide relief to women, but an ombudsperson and awareness of the procedures among women is what is needed more.

Women who are working side by side with men need to make a little more effort and come out openly against those who harass them at their offices.