- The POSH Act 2013 is Act No. 14 of 2013 and has been in force since 9 December 2013.
- “Employee” covers regular, temporary, contract, probationer, trainee, apprentice and voluntary workers.
- Failing to constitute an Internal Committee carries a fine of up to ₹50,000, doubled for repeat offences.
- On 12 August 2025 the Supreme Court ordered a district-wise survey to confirm that employers have set up committees.
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What does POSH compliance require from you?
A committee, a policy, training and a yearly report. Four duties. Section 19 of the Act on India Code lists your duties.
| Duty | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Constitute an Internal Committee | Written order, at each office or unit with 10+ employees |
| Display | Penal consequences and the committee order in a visible place |
| Train | Awareness workshops for staff and orientation for committee members |
| Support inquiries | Facilities, documents and witnesses for the committee |
| Act on findings | Within 60 days of the committee’s report |
| Report | Annual report to the District Officer by 31 January |
“Workplace” is wide. It includes any place an employee visits for work, including transport you provide, and a remote team’s home offices are treated as workplaces in practice.
Smaller teams are not exempt. Under 10 employees, complaints go to the district’s Local Committee, which also hears complaints against the employer personally.
What changed in POSH enforcement in 2025 and 2026?
Enforcement moved from paper to inspection. In Aureliano Fernandes, SCC Online reports the Supreme Court’s 12 August 2025 order directing a district-wise survey within six weeks.
The Court also said the Labour Department must make sure every employer constitutes a committee. Survey data is to go onto the SHe-Box portal.
Maharashtra followed up. A 14 May 2026 circular authorised officers to inspect POSH compliance against a checklist. A Pune office should expect an inspector to ask for the committee order, the policy, training records and the last annual report.
Courts also widened the reach. In Dr Sohail Malik on 10 December 2025, the Supreme Court held that a committee at the complainant’s workplace can inquire into a respondent from another organisation.
Watch one mistake. Global companies set up a single group-level committee in another country. Indian law wants one per Indian office or unit, chaired by a senior woman employee, with an external member.
How does POSH work when you employ through an EOR?
The EOR is the employer under the Act, so it constitutes the committee, holds the policy and files the annual report. Your managers still shape daily conduct.
Add POSH awareness to employee onboarding and make sure your team knows how to reach the committee. Our EOR compliance checklist lists POSH among the items to verify.
How does Remunance handle POSH compliance for your team?
Remunance handles POSH policy and annual filing for the people it employs for you, as part of the statutory scope it carries as employer of record. For businesses that already run their own Indian entity, our compliance management service can take on the same filings. If you are unsure whether your India set-up passes, book a POSH readiness review.
What else do people ask about POSH compliance?
Does the POSH Act apply to companies with fewer than 10 employees?
Yes, the duty to prevent harassment still applies. Without the 10-employee threshold you need no Internal Committee, and complaints go to the Local Committee instead.
Does POSH cover contractors and interns?
Yes. The Act’s definition of employee includes contract workers, trainees, apprentices and volunteers, so they can complain to your committee. That matters for independent contractors who work alongside your staff.
Can a man file a POSH complaint?
Not under this Act, which protects women. Many employers adopt gender-neutral policies voluntarily, and those sit within wider labour law compliance.
Planning a hire in India?
Our founding team has run payroll and hiring in India for 22+ years, first as Remunance Systems, which was later acquired by ADP.