23 August 2022
Employment and Labour say zero tolerance for harassment at the workplace
The Department of Employment and Labour has today, 23 August 2022 hosted an Employment Equity Road Show at Thohoyandou.
The aim of the roadshow is to educate stakeholders on the Code of Good Practice in the prevention and elimination of harassment at the workplace. The objective of the Code is to eliminate the harassment of employees in the workplaces, while working or engaged in work-related activities.
Deputy Director Advocacy Employment Equity, Lefika Masilo said, “The new code covers physical, verbal, psychological and sexual Harassment, and is replacing the Code of Good Practice on the handling of Sexual Harassment cases in the workplace, 2005, which was only focusing on sexual Harassment”.
He said the code applies to all workplace stakeholders including employers, employees, suppliers, cleaners job applicants, etc.
According to Masilo, “Employees are under obligation in terms of Section 60 of the Employment Equity Act to take proactive and remedial steps to prevent all forms of harassment in the workplace. This includes an assessment of the risk of harassment that employees are exposed to while performing their duties as far as reasonably practicable”.
He highlighted that cases of harassment are not reported as people fear to lose their jobs, not anyone believing them, appearing as trouble makers, or being accused of “asking for it” therefore, a climate in the workplace should be created in which employees who raise complaints about harassment will not feel that their grievances are ignored or trivialised or fear of reprisals.
“All internal and external communication related to an incident of harassment should be treated as confidential” he said.
It is therefore the duty of employees and employers to take part in contributing to a conducive working environment, protect and respect everyone’s dignity.
For media enquiries contact:
Lerato Mashamba
Limpopo Provincial Communication Officer
082 908 1833
lerato.mashamba@labour.gov.za
Source: Employment and Labour say zero tolerance for harassment at the workplace
