Workplaces should be made conducive to conduct work free from harassment – Department of Employment and Labour, and Commission for Conciliation Mediation
Workplaces should be made conducive to conduct work - free from harassment and bullying, said Department of Employment and Labour Deputy Director for Employment Equity (EE), Masilo Lefika.
Lefika said the issue of harassment is emotional, and needs to be dealt with sensitivity and be acted upon immediately when reported.
“Employers have an obligation to act when harassment and bullying is alleged. In addition to disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator, a complainant of harassment has the right to lay a criminal charge or institute civil proceedings against the alleged perpetrator,” Lefika warned.
The Deputy Director was speaking at Eastcape Training Centre (ETC) in Gqeberha during the joint Department of Employment and Labour, and the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) 2022 Employment Equity workshop.
The workshop is part of a national series of advocacy programme held throughout the country. The workshops started in Kimberley and have since been held in Mahikeng, Rustenburg; Thohoyandou, Polokwane; Mbombela, Emalahleni; Welkom; and Richards Bay.
The theme of the workshops is: “Real transformation makes business sense”.
Lefika was presenting on the Code of Good Practice on the prevention and elimination of harassment in the workplace that was published on 18 March 2022. The Code applies to all employers and employees, as provided for in the Employment Equity Act.
South Africa as a member of International Labour Organization (ILO) has signed the ILO Convention 190 which obliges ratifying states to adopt an inclusive, integrated and gender-responsive approach to the prevention and elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work.
The Code describes harassment as unwanted conduct, which impairs dignity. It may be the result of physical, verbal, or psychological conduct.
Lefika implored that employers should have harassment policies in place and these must be communicated effectively to employees. He said the availability of counselling, treatment, care and support programmes for employees should be outlined in the policy.
He emphasised that when dealing with alleged cases of harassment employers need to exercise a high degree of confidentiality.
The objective of the workshops is:
Publicising the Gazetted Code of Good Practice on elimination of and prevention harassment in the workplace;
- 2021-2022 EE Annual Report (22nd EE Annual Report);
- The 2022 EE Online reporting; and
- CCMA: Case law of all types of harassment.
The workshops are aimed at Employers or Heads of organisations, Academics, Assigned Senior Managers, Consultative forum members, Human Resource Practitioners, Trade Unions representatives and employees.
The remaining workshops re lined up as follows:
KwaZulu-Natal
- Pietermaritzburg (31 August 2022) – (venue to be confirmed)
- Durban (01 September 2022) – Olive Convention Centre, 81 Somtseu Road, North Beach
Eastern Cape
- East London (31 August 2022) – Hotel Osner, Court Crescent, Esplanade
Western Cape
- George (06 September 2022) – (venue to be confirmed)
- Cape Town (07 September 2022) – (venue to be confirmed)
Free State
- Bloemfontein (13 September 2022) – (venue to be confirmed)
Gauteng
- Pretoria (13 September 2022) – RH Hotel, Corner Steve Biko Road and, Trevenna Street, Sunnyside
- Johannesburg (14 September 2022) – (venue to be confirmed)
- Vaal (15 September 2022) – (venue to be confirmed)
The national workshops will be held from 10:00 to 13:00 and members of the media are invited.
More information on EE is obtainable from the Department website www.labour.gov.za including updates on the schedule for venues.
NB: The EE annual manual and online reporting season opens on 01 September 2022. The manual reporting deadline is 01 October 2022, and the online reporting submission closing date is 15 January 2023.
Media enquiries:
Teboho Thejane - Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 697 0694
Email: Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za
