CBIC Boosts Women in Trade with New Circular

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued two circulars on International Women’s Day to promote women participation in trade and gender-specific infrastructure facilities. The circulars aim to foster a gender-inclusive trade environment that empowers women to contribute meaningfully to the global economy.

Circular No. 02/2024: Encouraging Women Participation in International Trade

The first circular directs the field offices to ensure representation of women in the Permanent Trade Facilitation Committee (PTFC) and Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee (CCFC) meetings, encourage the trade bodies and custodians to establish dedicated help desks and processing mechanisms for women traders and women logistics service providers, and support in upskilling women logistics service providers, freight forwarders and custom brokers by offering relevant trainings for women.

According to the CBIC, this circular is in line with the World Trade Organization’s Buenos Aires Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment, which recognizes the importance of incorporating a gender perspective into trade policy. The CBIC also stated that it is committed to implementing the Trade Facilitation Agreement, which provides for effective cooperation between customs and other authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues.

Circular No. 03/2024: Inclusion of Gender Specific Infrastructure Facilities

The second circular instructs the field offices to ensure provision of safe and secure working environment to women and gender inclusive infrastructure, including care infrastructure and services, especially creches, sufficient lighting, panic buttons, regular upgradation of facilities from a gender perspective, and to spread awareness by holding regular gender sensitisation training sessions for all concerned staff and stakeholders.

The CBIC said that this circular is based on the recommendations of the National Commission for Women (NCW), which had conducted a study on the working conditions of women in the logistics sector. The NCW had suggested various measures to improve the safety and security of women workers, such as installation of CCTV cameras, provision of separate toilets and rest rooms, provision of transport facilities, and formation of internal complaints committees.

Conclusion

The CBIC said that these initiatives reflect its dedication to promote gender inclusiveness in the realm of work place ecosystem. The CBIC also expressed its commitment to fostering a gender-inclusive trade environment that empowers women to contribute meaningfully to the global economy.

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