Workplace sexual harassment law coming soon

Legislation to address sexual harassment in the workplace is set to be debated in Parliament quite soon.

So says Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, and the Democratic Labour Party’s candidate for St. George South, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo. She spoke to this bill as she canvassed the constituency over the weekend.

Byer Suckoo said that getting this bill, dubbed the Employment Sexual Harassment (Prevention) Bill to Parliament for approval, is a promise she made to the people of that constituency, and she is following through with that promise. The Bill is in fact the only one before the Senate now for debate, and it will originate there as opposed to the House of Assembly.

“They are now coming to the fore and talking about it. Now that we are giving some visibility to the subject, we are seeing people now identifying and saying ‘yes, that happens to me’. But as a doctor, I was able to get from patients that this was a challenge for them in the workplace and so when I became the Minister of Labour, I said good, I am in a position that we can bring this legislation and I said if there was one thing I was able to do while I was Minister of Labour, and before I move on to anything else, I want to bring sexual harassment legislation, and it is in Parliament and I will be debating it in a couple weeks’ time,” she said.

Minister Byer Suckoo added that she believes strongly that it is a piece of legislation that both men and women would be pleased to have. She made the point while noting that contrary to popular belief, it is not only women who fall prey to, or are vulnerable to acts of sexual harassment.

“Don’t be fooled, it is not just women who are victims of sexual harassment; I’ve been seeing a lot of people and we are ready to bring this now on our statute books. So this morning as we went around, we could convince our supporters in the area and residents of the community that I am still at work for them, not only in the constituency working with their young people and helping other needs, but also as Minister of Labour, working to ensure that their needs are also met in that regard,” she added.

Meanwhile, Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Adriel Brathwaite, who was accompanying Byer Suckoo on the mass canvass, noted that a public relations campaign will be undertaken regarding the Bill, so as to ensure that the public is comfortable with what is being proposed.

“We are not making the workplace a hostile environment, but we are also protecting rights of the individuals in the workplace,” he said.

The Labour Minister echoed his comments, as she revealed that she will be taking the opportunity to meet with various interest groups on the
matter.

“I will go on the media as well, and spend as much time as Barbadians need to have me explain the legislation; [and] the Labour Department of course is trained, and they will also be able to answer your questions. But to ensure that Barbadians know that the sexual harassment legislation is not about locking up people… it is about ensuring that a person’s rights are protected, a person can function in dignity and a person can say well look, this is what I want and I am not comfortable with X or I am not comfortable with Y,” she stated.

Byer Suckoo is adamant that the public need not be fearful of the pending legislation and she is confident that the gender neutral bill, once it is enacted, will address the needs of those being harassed and not impose undue hardship on anyone in the workplace.
(JRT)

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