PROVINCE INTRODUCES STEPS TO TACKLE SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The difficulty of establishing the facts relating to recent allegations of sexual harassment necessitates the establishment of functional systems that enable the facts to emerge immediately and appropriately so that any infringement can be dealt with, through due process, to uphold the rights of all involved. In these matters, it is a top priority to establish the facts. Rumour, innuendo and agendas complicate matters and infringe the rights of all concerned.
While the Provincial Government has had a Sexual Harassment Policy for a decade, adopted by the Provincial Bargaining Council under a DA government in 1999, it has subsequently fallen into disuse.
A functional policy is necessary to prevent people from being frightened of reporting cases of sexual harassment for fear of victimisation or losing their jobs.
A functional policy is also necessary to prevent people making vexatious and false allegations, to deal with issues immediately and professionally, to protect all parties and establish the facts as soon as possible, and to prevent various agendas and extraneous motives coming into play.
Today we announce the following steps to resurrect the Policy and bring a new focus to the prevention and policing of sexual harassment in the work environment: