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Pakistan Approves Bill to Protect Women Against Workplace Harassment

by VR Sreeraman on Nov 6 2008 11:30 AM

Pakistan's cabinet on Wednesday approved a bill aiming to protect women against workplace harassment and provide them with a safe working environment, the information minister said.

Pakistan's cabinet on Wednesday approved a bill aiming to protect women against workplace harassment and provide them with a safe working environment, the information minister said.

Under the proposed legislation, the government plans to set up a special federal ombudsman to handle complaints from women who face harassment at work, minister Sherry Rehman told a press briefing.

"Safe environment will be provided to all working women," she said.

The minister said that the bill, which will be sent to parliament for approval, would also amend certain criminal laws to increase punishments for offences related to the harassment of women.

Currently there are no specific laws dealing with workplace harassment in Pakistan and women have no legal recourse to justice against their colleagues, supervisors or employers.

Source-AFP
SRM/SK


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