Ministers should be ashamed of “disgraceful” backtrack on new sexual harassment laws

Commenting on amendments passed today (Friday) which mean that the Worker Protection Bill no longer includes a new duty on employers to protect their staff from so-called third party harassment by customers or patients – including from sexual harassment – TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:

“Ministers promised to bring in new laws to tackle sexual harassment at work by customers and patients. It is disgraceful that they’ve given in to Tory backbenchers and let down working women across the country.

“Every day we hear stories about sexual harassment in our workplaces. Many women in front-line jobs – like shop workers and GP’s receptionists – suffer regular abuse and harassment from patients and customers.

“This new law could have put the onus on employers keep their staff safe from this type of abuse.

“They have abandoned working people – again.”

Sexual harassment at work

Polling published by the TUC in May found that three in five (58%) women – and almost two-thirds (62%) of women aged between 25 and 34 – have experienced sexual harassment, bullying or verbal abuse at work.

In two out of five (39%) of the most recent incidents, the perpetrator of the sexual harassment, bullying or verbal abuse was a third party rather than another member of staff.