Federal implementation body to facilitate law demanded

Islamabad: The participants of a review meeting on implementation of Workplace Harassment Act on Monday demanded the Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Department (CADD) to form a Federal Implementation Watch Committee to facilitate and monitor the implementation of the law.

They said that similar committees in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are performing with varied success. “Even in the absence of this Committee, the work on implementation of this Act continues with a lot of seriousness. With this Committee notified, the Capital can become a model for the rest of the country,” they were of the opinion. The views were expressed by the participants at review and reflect meeting on implementation of law against harassment, organized by Mehargarh. About 20 representatives of over 13 different organizations, including public, private and civil society, participated where they discussed their experiences, appreciated each other’s achievements and shared the challenges they faced in handling cases and institutionalizing the mechanism in their organizations.

They said that since these cases are handled in confidentiality, most people don’t know about them and feel the law is not being implemented, but the presence of these important organizations is a proof that this law is actually being implemented in organizations that have progressive managements and care about the well beings of their employees.

Speaking on the occasion, Executive Director of Mehergarh Maliha Husain said it is very encouraging to see such senior public officials, private sector representatives, educational institutions and civil society siting together to share their experiences of implementing the workplace harassment Act.

“It is very heartening to see bigger organizations like Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NADRA, Fauji Fertilizers Company, NCA, RSPN, NRSP, COMSATS, SZABIST and Joint Staff College taking this level of interest in making their work environment more dignified. Progressive managements care about the well-being of their employees and take proper implementation of this law seriously”, she appreciated.

Shumaila Zeb, Assistant Professor, SZABIST said, “A healthy workplace is vital for the growing success of any organization. It is encouraging to see that even government organizations are working so seriously to eradicate this sensitivity issue.”  

The session was organized by Mehergarh with the help of Higher Education Commission (HEC) and International Islamic University, who provided the venue and their team assisted with the logistics. The participants had a consensus that it is important to provide a dignified and harassment free environment in educational institutes and all workplaces so that people may focus a hundred percent on what they are supposed to do.