{"id":3637,"date":"2023-02-17T16:44:39","date_gmt":"2023-02-17T15:44:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uni-europa.org\/?post_type=news&p=3637"},"modified":"2023-03-21T10:23:33","modified_gmt":"2023-03-21T09:23:33","slug":"ending-workplace-violence-and-harassment-in-the-commerce-sector","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.uni-europa.org\/news\/ending-workplace-violence-and-harassment-in-the-commerce-sector\/","title":{"rendered":"Ending workplace violence and harassment in the commerce sector"},"content":{"rendered":"

To work safely and in dignity, free from violence and harassment of any kind, is a fundamental human right which no worker must be denied. Commerce workers are however amongst those that suffer from high rates of harassment at the workplace.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Trade unionists from across Europe\u2019s commerce sector came together for a two-day workshop on the issue. \u00a0The objective was to share their experiences and learn about initiatives at the European and global levels aiming to put a definitive end to workplace violence and harassment as well as to\u00a0exchange the anti-harassment and violence prevention policies in different countries and companies. Participants had the opportunity to further discuss joint actions to eliminate negative practices by strengthening social dialogue and implementing appropriate preventive mechanisms.<\/p>\n

The workshop ended with a brainstorming on what should be included in the cross-sector guidelines which will be developed throughout the course of the project and presented at its final conference next year. Key points that came out of the discussions were that we need a stronger response from trade unions and joint actions and commitment from employers to achieve violence and harassment free environment in the commerce sector, shops and other commercial establishments. Workplace health and safety must include strong protection against discrimination, violence and harassment\u00a0– and not only the rules but also implementation and monitoring mechanisms.<\/p>\n

Commerce workers often have public-facing roles and third-party violence is a major issue in the commerce sector. \u201cThe customer is not always right, and violence is not part of the job,\u201d said Erika Kah\u00e4ra, UNI Europa Women\u2019s Committee Vice- President. Participants were given an update on UNI\u2019s commerce sector has led a global campaign to stop violence and harassment in commerce<\/a>. \u201cThe customer is not always right, and violence is not part of the job,\u201d\u00a0– said Erika Kah\u00e4ra, UNI Europa Women\u2019s Committee Vice- President.<\/p>\n

It has been almost 3 years since the ILO adopted its Convention 190 on the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work<\/a>. Yet, to date, only 25 countries around the world have ratified it \u2013 and only 7 of these in Europe.<\/p>\n

“Domestic violence is not a private issue. Employers have a duty of care and could provide paid leave. A victim of domestic violence should not have to choose between her safety and her job,\u201d said Veronica Fernandez Mendez, UNI Equal Opportunities Head of department.<\/p>\n

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Inequality between women and men persists in the world of work in many forms, from career prospects and development opportunities to various terms and conditions. The aim of this UNI Europa Equal Opportunities cross-sector project is to contribute to ending violence and harassment at work. This includes tackling domestic violence, as \u2013 with rising remote work \u2013 the home has become the new workplace.<\/p>\n

In order to achieve this goal, UNI Europa will:<\/p>\n