Gender specific infrastructure facilities to be provided by Custodian
Inclusion of gender specific infrastructure facilities to be provided by the Custodian CCSP-CFS/AFS/ICD under the HCCAR, 2009-reg.
Reference is invited to the Notification No. 26/2009-Customs (N.T.) dated 17.3.2009notified the Handling of Cargo in Customs Area Regulations (HCCAR) 2009 to regulate the functioning of Customs Cargo Service Providers including custodians of ICDs/CFSs. Further,Circular No. 13/2009-Customs dated 23.03.2009, Circular No. 04/2011-Customs dated10.01.2011, Circular No. 45/2013-Customs dated 31.12.2013, Circular No. 40/2016-Customsdated 26.08.2016, Circular No. 49/2018-Customs dated 03.12.2018, Circular No. 44/2020-Customs dated 08.10.2020, Circular No. 50/2020-Customs dated 05.11.2020, Circular No.20/2021-Customs dated 16.08.2021 were also issued to streamline various procedures relatingto ICDs/CFSs including annual audit of CFS, AFS and ICD to closely monitor theirperformance and to bring accountability, standardization and better facility for cross-border trading which in turn improve ease of doing business.
2. Circular No. 50/2020-Customs dated 05.11.2020 provides that the custodian shall also take steps to bring about necessary improvements in the infrastructural facilities and other amenities required to be provided to the trade and to Customs staff, as may be necessitated from time to time, consequent upon the growth in the volume of Import and Export Tradehandled at the CFS/AFS/ICD. Further, as per the check list of this Circular, the custodians should create gender specific and mainstreaming infrastructure facilities including special Eximcounters for the female customs brokers/traders, separate work place, customer care cells, essential utilities, restrooms etc.
3. It is also worth mentioning that the participation of women at the CFS/AFS/ICD has increased significantly through the different job roles and functions of trades in the recent past which demands for providing safe working places for women at such facilities for fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment for them. In view of the Government of Indiadedication to promote Nari Shakti, it is imperative to provide safe and secure working environment to women for furtherance in respective career field.
4. Accordingly, it has been decided that in addition to the existing infrastructural facilities as provided by the Custodian CFS/AFS/ICD under Regulation 5 of the HCCAR 2009, the following gender specific infrastructural facilities may also be encouraged for inclusiveness of women participation:
i. Gender responsive infrastructure at the logistics facilities to improve workplace efficiency of women workforce including sufficient lightening, panic buttons etc;
ii. Provision for care infrastructure and services, especially creches, per the rules laid out in the Maternity Benefits Act, 2017;
iii. Establishment of Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment At Work Places Act, 2013;
iv. Holding regular gender sensitization training sessions for all the staff of CFS/AFS/ICDand field formations;
v. Regular upgradation of facilities from a gender perspective;
vi. Any other gender specific facilities to have inclusive work place ecosystem.
5. In view of the above, the Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs having jurisdiction over CFS/AFS/ICD shall take suitable steps to encourage availability of such infrastructural facilities and take appropriate action to improve above infrastructure. The Custodians of CFS/AFS/ICD may also be sensitized to provide such infrastructural facilities in a proactive manner.
6. Difficulty, if any, in the implementation of this circular may be brought to the notice of the Board.
