NCW’s Recent Directions on POSH Compliance: Towards a Stronger Framework for Workplace Safety in India
Introduction More than a decade after the enactment of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (“POSH Act”), concerns regarding inadequate implementation continue to persist across both public and private sectors. Recent interventions by the National Commission for Women (NCW) demonstrate a renewed emphasis on institutional accountability and proactive compliance. In June 2026, the NCW issued a series of directions to States and Union Territories, seeking stricter implementation of the POSH Act and recommending mechanisms to ensure effective redressal of workplace sexual harassment. These measures reflect a shift from mere statutory compliance to a governance-based approach centred on transparency, accountability, and employee protection. Background The POSH Act was enacted pursuant to the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997), which recognised sexual harassment at the workplace as a violation...