Strengthening Workplace Safety: NCW Issues POSH Advisory and Inquiry Handbook

Background

On 19 June 2026, the National Commission for Women (NCW) issued an advisory to all States and Union Territories directing them to strengthen the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act). The advisory was addressed to the Chief Secretaries, Directors General of Police, District Magistrates, Senior Superintendents of Police, and Commissioners of Police to ensure consistent enforcement of the POSH Act across government, private, organised, and unorganised sectors. It seeks to move beyond mere statutory compliance by fostering safe, inclusive, and gender-sensitive workplaces through stronger monitoring, accountability, and awareness mechanisms.

Key Highlights of the Advisory 

• State-Level Monitoring: States and Union Territories have been advised to establish POSH Monitoring Cells or digital compliance dashboards and conduct periodic compliance reviews.

• Mandatory Annual POSH Audits: Annual POSH audits have been recommended for establishments employing 10 or more persons, covering legal compliance, Internal Committee functioning, awareness initiatives, confidentiality safeguards, and use of the SHe-Box platform. Failure to conduct audits is to be treated as non-compliance.

• District-Level Accountability: States have been directed to notify District Officers to oversee implementation, monitoring, awareness, and grievance redressal under the POSH Act.

• Universal Constitution of Internal Committees (ICs): Every establishment employing ten or more persons must constitute legally compliant Internal Committees in each office, branch, and unit.

• Strengthening Local Committees (LCs): Districts must ensure effective Local Committees for women working in establishments with fewer than ten employees, domestic workers, and the informal sector.

• Appointment of Nodal Officers: Nodal Officers are to be appointed at block, tehsil, taluka, ward, and municipality levels to facilitate complaint registration and referrals to Local Committees.

• Public Disclosure Requirements: Details of ICs, LCs, Nodal Officers, complaint procedures, and grievance mechanisms should be prominently displayed on websites and office premises.

• Employer Compliance: Employers have been reminded to ensure timely inquiries, maintain confidentiality, submit annual reports, conduct awareness programmes, and implement committee recommendations promptly.

• Capacity Building: Regular sensitisation programmes and specialised training for IC and LC members have been recommended to ensure legally compliant and sensitive inquiries.

• Promotion of SHe-Box: Organisations have been encouraged to promote the use of the Government's SHe-Box portal for filing and tracking complaints.

• Protection Against Retaliation: The advisory emphasises safeguards against victimisation, intimidation, discrimination, or retaliation against complainants, witnesses, and committee members.

• Focus on Educational and Healthcare Institutions: Schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, hostels, coaching centres, and medical institutions have been urged to strengthen POSH compliance considering the vulnerability of students, interns, trainees, researchers, and contractual personnel.

• Awareness in the Unorganised Sector: District administrations have been encouraged to conduct awareness campaigns in rural areas, industrial clusters, domestic work sectors, and other informal workplaces.

• Safer Workplaces: Organisations have been advised to adopt a zero-tolerance approach and improve workplace safety through adequate infrastructure, lighting, surveillance, safe access, and emergency support mechanisms.

• Overall Objective: The advisory aims to strengthen implementation of the POSH Act by promoting a culture of dignity, accountability, and workplace safety for women across India.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) Releases POSH Inquiry Handbook 

To complement its recent advisory on strengthening POSH compliance, NCW has also released the Handbook on Inquiry Procedure for Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs) under the POSH Act. The handbook serves as a practical guide for conducting fair, impartial, and legally sustainable inquiries under the POSH Act. It provides step-by-step inquiry procedures, flowcharts, procedural checklists, and guidance on the principles of natural justice, confidentiality, evidence assessment, and report writing. It also distinguishes between inquiry procedures for ICs, LCs, and government departments, while incorporating key judicial precedents to promote consistency and procedural fairness in POSH inquiries.

Next Steps for Non-Profit Organisations

• Review POSH Framework: Assess existing POSH policies, IC constitution, inquiry procedures, and reporting practices against the NCW Advisory and Inquiry Handbook.

• Strengthen Compliance Mechanisms: Ensure legally compliant ICs are constituted across all offices, conduct regular awareness and capacity-building programmes, and maintain robust confidentiality and record-keeping practices.

• Enhance Governance and Accountability: Consider periodic internal POSH compliance reviews, promote awareness of the SHe-Box platform, and strengthen measures to prevent retaliation while fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace for employees, volunteers, interns, consultants, and beneficiaries.