Sexual harassment sharing session June 26

Kota Kinabalu: Speak Up! Against Sexual Harassment – that is the theme of a sharing session for survivors of sexual harassment in the workplace to be held on June 26 at a hotel in the city.It is a private coffee session for ladies to understand more about sexual harassment and how to stop it.

Recent complaints lodged by victims prompted LEAN Sabah to initiate the move to give the time and safe space for survivors to share and be heard in the words of its Co-Founder Hanaa Wong Abdullah.

She said LEAN Sabah advocates zero-tolerance for inappropriate sexual conduct in the workplace.

"I want to do this (session) because what I am hearing is that due to a lack of awareness and clear understanding of Human Resource (HR) Departments in organisations, they (personnel) do not know how to handle sexual harassment cases.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Sabah revenue hits RM6.97 billion: Hajiji says GRS State Government may see full term

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government continued its momentum in managing the economy in line with the commitment and spirit of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) when it posted record high state revenue of RM6.973 billion last year.

"More often than not, they bungle the situation by sweeping things under the carpet which should not be the case. This leads to the victims feeling even more harassed, unheard, uncared for and unimportant.

This is unacceptable to me," she said.

According to Wong, Section 81F of the Employment Act 1955 imposes a mandatory obligation for employers to investigate any complaints of sexual harassment.

Under the same Section, any employer who fails to inquire into complaints of sexual harassment under Subsection 81B (1) commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding RM10,000.

She said the forthcoming session has the blessing of the Ministry of Health and People's Well-being.

"Its Permanent Secretary Janet Chee has helped to promote the event among welfare-related non-governmental organisations (NGOs)."

The promotional poster was designed by the President of Soroptimist International Kota Kinabalu (SIKK), Ophelia Domingo.

Meanwhile, Wong reiterated the need for a Sexual Harassment Act in Malaysia, saying elections have come and gone but the Act is still nowhere in sight.

"Yes, unfortunately, still no law. Maybe with another push, something concrete can happen," she enthused.

Sexual harassment in the workplace was a hot topic in the eighties and nineties when seminars and workshops were held in Sabah by various women non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with resolutions submitted to the relevant authorities.

For years, the Federal Ministry of Women, Family and Community Developing had been working on the proposed Act but to no avail.

Although there is no Sexual Harassment Act per se in Malaysia, there are legislation and guidelines such as the Penal Code Act 574, Employment Act 1955 and the Code of Practice On The Prevention and Eradication of Sexual Harassment In The Workplace.

The Code of Practice which was prepared by the Federal Ministry of Human Resources defines sexual harassment in Article 4 as:

Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.

Daily Express Malaysia

Any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature having the effect of verbal, non-verbal, visual, psychological or physical harassment that might, on reasonable grounds, be perceived by the recipient as placing a condition of a sexual nature on her/his employment; or

That might, on reasonable grounds, be perceived by the recipient as an offence or humiliation, or a threat to his/her well-being, but has no direct link to her/his employment.

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00

Try 1 month for RM 18.00