DOLE to employers: Enforce policy vs sexual harassment at workplace

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz called on employers over the weekend to take a firm stand against sexual harassment at the workplace, considering that such an assault tends to disrupt workers’ efficiency and productivity. “Employers are responsible not only in protecting workers’ rights and dignity but also in preventing acts like sexual harassment that would result in an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment which is harmful to employees’ productivity," Baldoz said in a news release posted on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) website. Baldoz made the call after learning of five restaurant workers who claimed their manager had made sexual advances on them and treated their leaves and work schedule unfairly. She was referring to the recent case handled by the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) involving the Toki Japanese Fusion and Fine Dining Restaurant in Binangonan, Rizal. “After a series of conciliation and mediation conferences, the parties agreed to measures that settled their dispute," Baldoz said. According to her, Republic Act 7877, the anti-sexual harassment law, makes it the duty of the employer to prevent or deter sexual harassment and to provide procedures to resolve, settle or prosecute of acts of sexual harassment. She reminded employers they shall be liable for damages arising from acts of sexual harassment committed in workplaces, especially so if they were informed of such acts by the offended party and yet did not take immediate action. — MRT/LBG, GMA News