News Release — Belgium, June 24, 2021
As the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work comes into force on 25 June 2021, global unions have launched a toolkit to support the Convention and its Recommendation 206. The manual will provide thousands of unions around the world with critical tools in the fight to eradicate violence and harassment.
Affecting millions of workers globally, physical assault, bullying, sexual harassment, online abuse, economic violence and abusive work practices are some of the most widespread forms of violence in the world of work. Convention 190 and Recommendation 206, achieved through intensive lobbying by trade unions and women’s groups across the world, are the first international instruments of this kind — extending to all sectors (public and private) as well as the informal economy.
The new toolkit aims to support unions to develop training programmes and workplace solutions that tackle violence and harassment, with a special focus on gender-based violence and harassment. Evidence shows that all types of violence against women and girls have intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, making women workers especially vulnerable. A lack of policies and employer support to respond to and prevent this violence have led many women to develop anxiety, mental illness, or decreased job performance. Domestic violence, while taking place outside the workplace, can also have significant physiological and physical implications on abused workers.
The toolkit features a facilitators’ guide and an activities workbook aiming to: encourage discussion about violence and harassment in the world of work; raise awareness about Convention 190 and its accompanying Recommendation 206 and its significance for workers, particularly women; encourage unions to campaign for ratification; encourage unions to integrate Convention 190 into their bargaining agenda; and build stronger unions to enable workers to assert their rights to a world of work free from violence and harassment. Susan Hopgood, Education International President, stated: “Convention 190 and Recommendation 206 are a great victory for us all and especially for the women who spearheaded this movement. It is a great step forward but it’s just the first. We now need to ensure every country ratifies and implements the Convention. We must press on until we make this convention a reality for workers everywhere.”