The All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) has written to the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), raising serious concerns about the functioning of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) in banks. These committees are responsible for handling complaints of sexual harassment in the workplace, as mandated by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
In its letter, AIBEA General Secretary C.H. Venkatachalam pointed out several shortcomings in the way ICCs are operating in banks. He stated that in many cases, these committees are not fully functional, as they lack proper representation due to frequent transfers or retirements of members. Additionally, many women employees are unaware of who the committee members are, making it difficult for them to seek help when needed.
Concerns Raised by Women Bank Employees
AIBEA’s concerns are based on discussions at the National Women Bank Employees Convention held in Ahmedabad on February 8-9, 2025. Women employees from various banks shared their experiences, revealing the following key issues:
- Lack of Awareness: Many women employees do not know who the ICC members are because banks do not properly communicate this information.
- Pressure to Withdraw Complaints: In several cases, complainants were allegedly pressured to withdraw their complaints instead of receiving fair hearings.
- Victim Transfers: Instead of taking action against the accused, some banks transferred the complainants to different branches, causing further distress.
- No Representation for Award Staff: The ICCs in banks mostly consist of women officers, and there is no representation for Award staff, who form a large section of female employees.
AIBEA’s Demands
AIBEA has strongly recommended that banks improve their ICCs by taking the following steps:
- Ensure Proper Functioning: Banks should ensure that ICCs remain active, with all positions filled and updated regularly.
- Increase Awareness: Information about ICC members should be made easily accessible to all employees.
- Stop Victim Transfers: Complainants should not be transferred as a response to their complaints. Instead, strict action should be taken against the accused.
- Include Award Staff Representatives: Since more than 1 lakh of the 2.1 lakh women employees in public sector banks belong to the Award staff category, AIBEA has demanded that at least one Award staff representative, nominated by the union, be included in ICCs.
Call for Action by IBA
AIBEA has urged the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) to issue an advisory to all banks, instructing them to address these issues and make the ICCs more effective. The union believes that ensuring a fair and transparent complaints system will help protect women employees from harassment and provide them with a safer work environment.
The banking sector employs a large number of women, and AIBEA insists that their safety and rights should not be compromised. The union has also called on its member unions to monitor the implementation of ICC guidelines in their respective banks and take up issues on behalf of affected employees.
Conclusion
Workplace safety is a fundamental right of every employee. AIBEA’s initiative highlights the urgent need for banks to strengthen their Internal Complaints Committees and ensure that women employees feel safe and supported. The ball is now in the court of the Indian Banks’ Association to take necessary action and address these pressing concerns.