Pune: Nascent Information Technology Employees Senate (Nites), an IT employee body, has written to Union labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya seeking a detailed audit of compliance with the Prevention of Sexual Harrasement (POSH) Act by the Nashik IT firm whose women employees have approached the police recently with serious complaints, including sexual harassment and coercion.The forum has sought examination of all complaints regarding sexual harassment that were received, are pending or were disposed of over the last several years, along with the action taken by the company, assessment of the role and accountability of HR personnel and senior management in handling complaints and ensuring a safe workplace.Nites has requested the labour minister to intervene and verify whether employees were discouraged from reporting complaints or subjected to retaliation. A wider state-level audit of POSH compliance across IT companies operating in Maharashtra is also required, the letter said.The IT firm in question said it has a long-standing zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form. “We have always ensured the highest standards of safety and wellbeing of our employees at the workplace. We took swift action as soon as we were made aware of the matter in Nashik. The employees being investigated have been suspended pending enquiry,” it said in a response to queries.Meanwhile, Nites president Harpreet Singh Saluja said, “The allegations made by multiple women employees are extremely serious and reflect not just individual misconduct, but a complete failure of workplace safeguards and accountability within the organisation. No employee should have to endure such humiliation, fear and exploitation at their place of work.”The forum has also sought for inspection of grievance redressal mechanisms, including existence and functioning of grievance committees. “The ministry should consider audit of working conditions, including working hours, overtime practices, shift policies and their impact on employee health and well being,” the letter said.Nites has urged the govt to consider instituting periodic mandatory audits and reporting requirements for IT sector companies to ensure continuous compliance and accountability.
