New Bill to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace

KATHMANDU: The Parliamentary Committee on Women, Children, Elderly citizens and the differently abled has started discussion on a new bill to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace
here on Wednesday at Singha Durbar. The new proposed bill has a provision of  three months prison sentence or a fine of Rs. 25,000 or both for sexual harassment offenders.

Speaking at the meeting , Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Nilam KC Said, " we need strong rules and regulation to to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. The new bill will soon come into practice after the endorsement by the parliament. The bill will help to  put an end to violence against women, considering the increasing incidents of violence at the workplace and help to secure women in terms of their security. The workplace needs to be   gender-friendly allowing women to work in a secured and dignified manner."

Lawmakers including among others Dr Ganesh Man Gurung, Pemba Lama, Sita Giri Oli, Ratna Devi Gurung, Rekha Sharma and Agni Sapkota suggested some changes in the proposed bill including the definition of 'workplace'.