Kolkata women's forum urges Mamata Banerjee to form harassment probe committee

The Women's Forum for Screen Workers (WFSW) has written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, urging the formation of an independent committee to investigate workplace harassment and gender-based violence in the state’s screen entertainment industry.

WFSW (Women's Forum for Screen Workers), a collective of women, sexual, and gender minorities working as actors, technicians, and crew members in film, television, and web platforms, united in response to the heinous rape and murder incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.

In the letter, the forum calls for the investigation of incidents of sexual harassment and abuse, including physical, sexual, verbal, psychological, and digital forms, within the industry. They also emphasised reviewing compliance with



the PoSH Act, 2013, across all production companies, studios, and workplaces in the screen entertainment sector.

The forum further requested the protection of minors working in the industry under the Pocso Act, 2012. They recommended structural reforms in line with the Social Security Provisions for Film and Television Industry Workers, as outlined in the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code, 2020.

The letter also urged an investigation into the exploitative practices prevalent in the industry due to the absence of formal contracts, leading to job insecurity, payment disputes, and severe exploitation. The forum highlighted the need for legal reforms based on international best practices, such as the ILO Convention No 190 on Gender-Based Violence and Harassment.