The government today said the IT and BPO industry should maintain a database of all employees, including drivers and other contract staff, to ensure the security of workers, especially women travelling at night.

The move comes after a BPO employee was abducted by a group of men and raped after being dropped by her office vehicle last week.

Asserting that the government has "zero-tolerance for such things", Minister of State for IT and Communications Sachin Pilot said employers need to ensure that every employee -- including security, transportation, sanitation and catering personnel -- is verified.

"The companies need to have a centralised database with details of all employees, including contract staff like drivers. If required, biometric identification should also be done," he said.

Pilot added that after dropping female employees, the driver should wait till they reach their homes.

Pilot today convened a meeting with police officials and representatives of the IT and BPO industry to review and draw up an action plan for the security of employees.

The Indian IT-ITeS industry employs about 2.3 million people directly and 8.8 million indirectly.

According to a Nasscom-Mercer 'Gender Inclusivity' report, over six lakh women are employed by the Indian IT industry.

The meeting was attended by police officials from Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon, where the maximum number of IT-BPO companies are located.

Representatives from companies like EXL, Genpact and HCL, as well as IT industry body Nasscom, also attended the meeting.

The minister said a meeting will be held with police officials, companies and the ministry every three months to assess the security situation.

This is not the first time the IT industry has been rocked by a rape incident. In 2006, the rape and murder of a BPO employee in Bangalore by a cab driver had jolted the industry.

BPO companies have been taking a number of steps to ward off such events. Drivers have been instructed not to drop off women employees on the road, while speed governors and vehicle-tracking systems have been installed in cabs.

Pilot said companies are also looking at providing self-defence classes to female employees.