Government Schemes for equal opportunities and good working conditions for women Government has enacted the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 which provides for payment of equal remuneration to men and women workers for same work or work of similar nature in the matter of employment and also prohibits any discrimination against women in recruitment or any condition of service. The Act is being enforced by the Central and State Governments in their respective spheres to ensure compliance of provisions of the Act. Officers of appropriate Government notified as inspectors make inspections and prosecute those found violating the provision of the Act. The Act extends to the whole of India. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 has been enacted to provide safe working environment in workplace for women. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is administering the scheme of Working Women Hostels for ensuring safe accommodation for working women away from their place of residence and Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for providing day care facilities to Children of Working Mothers. Apart from these, provisions of Maternity leave under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, Child Care Leave and Paternity leave have been made for making employment policies more sensitive towards women employees. This information was given by the Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
