Editorial: Tackling violence and harassment @ workplaces must be stepped up

A recent sensitisation workshop on the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Convention 190 in collaboration with the Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA), Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise and Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) highlighted evidence of workplace violence and harassment as being prevalent in all sectors – both formal and informal.

Indeed, 72 percent of the country’s labour force experience some form of violence or harassment at the workplace, with women constituting 53 percent and the rest being persons within the ages of 22 and 35 years.

Secretary General-TUC Joshua Ansah said harassment and violence at the workplace not only violates an individual’s fundamental rights, but also massively hinders productivity.

Stakeholders at the workshop consequently underscored the need to ratify and adopt policies in line with ILO Convention 190.

Mr. Ansah explained that in order to actively work on promoting a safe and inclusive environment, reporting mechanisms and raising awareness on issues of violence and harassment must be strengthened – especially among vulnerable groups.

Director-Industrial Relations, GEA, Mr. Joseph Kingsley Amuah indicated that ILO Convention 190 offers a comprehensive framework that allows employers to prevent and respond to incidents of violence and harassment.

The Convention helps create workplaces where dignity and respect are prioritised, leading to improved productivity and stronger business performance.

We are learning that GEA has been working with the Employment and Labour Relations Ministry and other key stakeholders to domesticate key provisions of the Convention and ensure the processes for its ratification and implementation are swiftly carried out.

Convention 190 refers to violence and harassment as a single encompassing concept that covers “a set of” unacceptable behaviours and practices or threats thereof, whether a single occurrence or repeated, that aim at, result in or are likely to result in physical, psychological, sexual or economic harm – and includes gender-based violence and harassment.

Adopted in June 2019 ILO Convention No. 190 (C190) is the first international treaty to recognise everyone’s right to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment.

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