NCW talks focus on women-friendly labour legislations

NEW DELHI: An integrated portal for women migrant workers, the implementation of the workplace sexual harassment law and the inclusion of domestic workers were the key suggestions made during deliberations for a legal review of the Interstate Migrant Workmen Act.

The deliberations have been initiated by the National Commission for Women to make the 1979 legislation women friendly.

Zonal consultations have begun, and two such consultations, with the south Indian states and eastern states, have been carried out.

In all, five zonal consultations will take place.

Review findings will be submitted to the Union ministries of women and child development as well as the ministry of labour and employment.

A revision of the legislation’s title is one of the suggestions, in addition to recommendations for fixing the wage gap. National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma said that in most cases, women migrant workers do not get as many benefits as men.

“The role of the middleman or a contractor, who controls salaries, must be reviewed. They control the wages and in almost all cases; the women get paid lesser,” Sharma said.