Sexual Harassment and Violence at Workplaces on the Rise- Report

A report by Public Services International (PSI) has revealed that sexual harassment and violence at workplaces still exist despite having the needed laws.

The research in the report launched Wednesday at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, was commissioned by PSI, a labor rights activist organisation.

The report on occupation, safety and violence at workplaces in Uganda, shows that the vice has increased due to laxity in the implementation of the laws.

The United Nations defines sexual harassment as unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature.

“For example, a man whistles at a woman when she walks by or a woman looks a man up and down when he walks towards her.”

Speaking at the launch, Dr Evelyn Akech from Public Services International, said that their research focused on the incidences of violence and harassment in the world of work, particularly in sectors of education, health and electricity.

She said the study found that women are still the most affected in the three sectors.

“In the education sector, many lecturers still take advantage of the students they supervise in terms of awarding marks for sex.”

The study also shows that many workers still fear reporting cases of sexual harassment due to the stigma associated with it.

She revealed that most employers lack a violence and harassment committee which should be able to address the reporting mechanism and challenges of the same, which makes it difficult for the victims to get justice.

Meanwhile Hilda Nakaya, a Labor Officer at the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development, called for collective responsibility if the vice is to be fought.

Sanya Aggrey, the General Secretary of Uganda Medical Workers Union, noted that some workplaces force employees to share same washrooms and changing rooms which can turn out to be catastrophic.

“You find that we still share washrooms both males and females. In duty rooms, we seat both males and females throughout the night during night shifts. We should have cameras in the duty rooms, especially in health sectors but also we should think of transparent duty rooms,” he noted.