By Own Correspondent

THE Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has commended tripartite partners for crafting a workplace training manual on sexual harassment saying the tool will go a long way to eradicate the rampant abuses which are rife at several workplaces.

The Training Manual for workplace policy development and programme implementation on gender-based violence (GBV) & sexual harassment was developed to provide guidance to the world of work for standardized education and awareness training to eliminate violence and harassment in Zimbabwe’s workplaces. The manual is aligned to ILO Convention 190 and Recommendation 206. It is linked to the national Strategy for the Elimination of Sexual Harassment and Gender Based Violence in the Workplace in line with ILO Convention 190 and Recommendation 206. The Strategy seeks to protect workers in the world of work and provides a guiding framework for the development of workplace policies on sexual harassment.

 It also guides on in-house support systems such as the training of workplace gender champions, general scaling-up of responses and preventive measures by the tripartite and other stakeholders, as well as maintaining standards at national, sectorial and enterprise levels.

Speaking at the launch, Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Gender Commission said that the training manual followed the development of the Strategy on violence and sexual harassment at the workplace in 2021 and was a consultative process involving labour, employers and government.

“The Strategy was formulated in line with the ILO Convention on Ending Violence and Harassment at the Workplace, (No.190) and Recommendation (No. 206), 2019.

“These instruments recognize that violence and sexual harassment in the world of work constitute a human rights violation or abuse which pose a threat to equal opportunities, hence is unacceptable and incompatible with decent work aspirations,” said the Chairperson.

International Labour Organisation (ILO) Officer-in-Charge, Annamarie Kiaga said violence and harassment in the world of work needs to be stopped urgently.

“Violence and harassment in the world of work is a violation of human rights. Everyone is entitled to work in a place where they are and feel safe. Workers’ and human rights lie at the core of the Agenda 2030 and if we are going to realize the SDGs in a way that leaves no-one behind, such rights and obligations must be met,” she said.

Kiaga added that violence and harassment undermines the attainment of decent work and affects not only social relationships in the workplace, but also negatively impacts productivity and the career trajectory of the victim.