The TUC has today (Monday) told the government that it would be
“shameful” if it backtracks on its promise to strengthen sexual
harassment laws at work.
According to reports in the Financial
Times, ministers will allow The Worker Protection Bill to
fall – despite previously vowing to support the legislation that
will introduce a new preventative duty on employers to tackle
harassment and abuse in the workplace.
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “It would
be utterly shameful if the government allows this bill to fall.
“Ministers promised to bring in new laws to tackle sexual
harassment. But are now backsliding under pressure from
backbenchers.
“Every day we hear stories about how endemic sexual harassment is
in our workplaces.
“And we know many in public-facing jobs – like shop workers and
GP receptionists – suffer abuse and harassment regularly from
clients and customers.
“Rishi Sunak must not abandon vulnerable staff. These protections
are essential.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- Government consultation on Worker Protection
Bill: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace/outcome/consultation-on-sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-government-response
- Harassment at work: A landmark report
published by the TUC in 2016 found that more than half of women
had experienced sexual harassment at work: https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/SexualHarassmentreport2016.pdf
And TUC research published last year found that two in five BME
people have faced racism at work in the last five years – from
“banter” and jokes, through to bullying and harassment: https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/2-5-bme-workers-experience-racism-work-new-tuc-report
A survey by shop workers’ union USDAW last month revealed that 9
in 10 staff had experienced abuse at work: https://www.usdaw.org.uk/About-Us/News/2022/Mar/Abuse-threats-and-violence-against-shopworkers-rem#:~:text=Paddy%20Lillis%20%E2%80%93%20Usdaw%20General%20Secretary,2020%20to%201
