Steps to address sexual harassment in workplaces

Anjana SAMARASINGHE

The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce CCC and the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon EFC launched a joint initiative to encourage employers to adopt and implement a Code of Conduct and Procedures to address sexual harassment in the workplace.

As a result of this initiative over 40 companies are to adopt and implement Code of conduct and Procedures to address the sexual harassment menace in workplaces.

The EFC developed guidelines for Company policy on Gender Equity/Equality in cooperation with the ILO in 2006 and also launched a Code of Conduct and Procedures to Address Sexual Harassment in the Workplace in September 2003.

Director General of the EFC Ravi Peiris said that sexual harassment is one of the key issues in the working place.

This will lead to less productivity and badly impact for the economic growth in the country.

It is expected that more companies will adopt this, he said.

Industrial Relations Adviser of EFC Ayomi Fernando said that many companies think there is no need of adopting code of conducts to prevent sexual harassment since there is no such incident reported in their companies. But all companies need to seriously address this issue.

Companies need to adopt a policy on sexual harassment to increase the quality of work and productivity. It will also be an impact on the company’s image and the reputation she said.

Management should create awareness on sexual harassment among their employees.

There should be proper complaint mechanism to report incidents. All complaints need to be address ed seriously and confidentially, she said.

Companies could take formal and informal approaches for handling these issues but informal approaches are much more effective. There should be more participation of women for the panels appointed by the companies to handle these issues, she said.

Both the victim and the alleged person involved have the right to have an impartial inquiry in accordance with company’s disciplinary procedure.

Many victims do not complain about sexual harassment due to the fear of unhealthy consequences arising out of publicity, absence of complaint procedures and fear of reprisal by the person involved she said.

CSR Steering Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce has decided to partner the EFC towards addressing sexual harassment in the workplace.