IT sector employees’ body NITES on Monday approached the Ministry of Labour and Employment, seeking a detailed audit of POSH compliance in Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and advocating for a wider state-level audit across tech and ITES companies, especially large multinational organisations in Maharashtra, PTI reported.
NITES seeks audit of POSH compliance
The letter to the labour ministry comes in the backdrop of charges of sexual harassment and allegations of forced religious conversion by eight female employees at TCS’ office in Nashik, an incident that has drawn sharp scrutiny and raised serious concerns.
According to the news agency, NITES urged the ministry to take “immediate and decisive action” by directing a comprehensive and time-bound audit and inspection.
TCS reiterates zero-tolerance policy
India’s largest IT services company said on Sunday that it has long maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form, confirming the suspension of employees allegedly involved in sexual harassment at its Nashik office.
Call for detailed review of internal mechanisms
The Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (NITES), in a letter to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, has called for a detailed audit of POSH, Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the workplace, compliance in TCS across all its establishments, including the constitution, independence, and functioning of internal committees.
The IT employees’ body has also demanded an examination of all complaints of sexual harassment received, pending, or disposed of within the organisation over the past several years, along with the action taken. It has also called for an assessment of the role and accountability of Human Resources personnel and senior management in handling complaints and ensuring a safe workplace, PTI reported.
It further demanded “verification of whether employees were discouraged from reporting complaints or subjected to retaliation.”
Demand for wider state-level audit
NITES also highlighted the need for “a wider state-level audit of POSH compliance across IT and ITES companies operating in Maharashtra, especially large multinational organisations.”
It called for the issuance of strict directions to fix accountability on employers and management for failure to ensure a safe, lawful, and dignified workplace.
Employees deserve safe workplaces: NITES
“The employees of this country contribute immensely to the growth of the IT sector and to the economy at large. They deserve workplaces that are safe, respectful, and compliant with the law,” NITES said, PTI reported.
It added, “We, therefore, request the ministry to treat this matter with utmost urgency and seriousness, not only to address the present case but also to ensure that such incidents do not recur anywhere in the country.”
SIT probe and arrests in Nashik case
Last week, police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe complaints lodged by eight employees, who alleged that senior colleagues mentally and sexually harassed them and that the Human Resources department turned a deaf ear to their complaints. Police have since arrested seven people, including the company’s female HR manager.
Company suspends accused, cooperates with probe
According to PTI, the company said, “TCS has a long-standing zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form. We have always ensured the highest standards of safety and well-being of our employees at the workplace. As soon as we were made aware of the matter in Nashik, we took swift action.”
The employees under investigation have been suspended pending inquiry, the company spokesperson said, adding that the firm is cooperating with local law enforcement authorities and that any further action will be based on the outcome of the investigation.
(With PTI inputs)