Still waiting on sexual harassment legislation

General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), Toni Moore, remains hopeful that sexual harassment legislation will be on the statute books sooner rather than later.

 

Moore was speaking in a recent interview with the media as she noted that while discussions on sexual harassment legislation started in excess of six years now, it still has not reached 

a point where it can become a reality. The union boss said from what she recalls, there are still a number of areas within that draft legislation that need to be clarified first.

 

“I do not recall the exact year, but the Barbados Workers’ Union was still with CTUSAB and there was a draft bill and there were comments being sought on it. The Minister, as recently as a year ago, made some mention of it and the need to get that in train, but there have been no discussions that would lead to definite proclamation,” she said.

 

The union boss made the point as she noted that there is an expressed commitment by the Ministry of Labour to follow through on that legislation. She made the point while noting that there are several other pieces of legislation that the Ministry of Labour had also given commitment to work on, that are still awaiting advancement so that they can be enacted.

 

Her comments have come just a few months after High Court Judge, Madam Justice Jacqueline Cornelius, while delivering a lecture in observance of International Women’s Day, lamented the progress being made in passing sexual harassment legislation in this country. Justice Cornelius also noted at that time that the legislation is focused on the workplace, but should be broad-based. (JRT)