Customs instruct Custodians to provide Gender Specific Infrastructure Facilities

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has released a Circular to instruct Custodians to provide Gender specific infrastructure facilities.

The Circular Read as follows:

Reference is invited to 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 relating to ICDs/CFSs including annual audit of CFS, AFS and ICD to closely monitor their performance and to bring accountability, standardization and better facility for cross-border trading which in turn improve ease of doing business.

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.

Furthermore, according to the checklist in this Circular, custodians should create gender-specific and mainstreaming infrastructure facilities such as special Eximcounters for female customs brokers/traders, a separate workplace, customer care cells, essential utilities, restrooms, and so on.

It is also worth noting that women’s participation at the CFS/AFS/ICD has increased significantly in recent years due to various job roles and trade functions, necessitating the provision of safe working conditions for women at such facilities in order to foster an inclusive and respectful work environment for them. In light of the Government of India‘s commitment to promoting Nari Shakti, it is critical to provide a safe and secure working environment for women seeking advancement in their various career fields.

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/ICD and field formations;

v. Regular upgradation of facilities from a gender perspective;

vi. Any other gender specific facilities to have an inclusive workplace ecosystem.

In view of the above, the Principal Commissioner/Commissioner of Customs having jurisdiction over CFS/AFS/ICD shall take suitable steps to encourage the availability of such infrastructural facilities and take appropriate action to improve the above infrastructure. The Custodians of CFS/AFS/ICD may also be sensitized to provide such infrastructural facilities in a proactive manner.

For Official Circular Download PDF Given Below: