Union backs call for Anti-Sexual Harassment Act amendments

KUCHING (Sept 3): The National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) has voiced strong support for the recent announcement by the Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri on the proposed amendments to the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 (Act 840).

According to NUBE general secretary J. Solomon, as the proposed amendments aim to enhance the Act’s effectiveness in combating workplace sexual harassment, the union thus welcomes the move, seeing that it is crucial in fostering a safer and healthier work environment.

“NUBE sees the importance of holding not just individuals, but also organisations accountable for acts of sexual harassment occurring within the workplace.

“This would undoubtedly lead to greater accountability and a much safer and healthier work environment for all,” he said in statement yesterday.

NUBE lauded the minister’s efforts in addressing the existing weaknesses in the legislation and expressed readiness to support stricter laws if necessary.

“NUBE applauds the efforts by the minister (Nancy) towards strengthening the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, and also towards introducing stricter laws if required,” he said.

Adding on, Solomon said that NUBE had been at the forefront of advocating for fair and equal treatment for all bank employees, irrespective of age, gender or race, as the union views the proposed amendments as a significant step toward achieving these goals.

Solomon also said that NUBE also supported Nancy’s call for all victims of sexual harassment to report their cases so as to ensure prompt action, and not to suffer in silence.

“All union members are urged to take such matters seriously, and to report any incidents of harassment.

“Do not remain silent or suffer alone. Report any such incidents, and NUBE will stand with you to bring them to the authorities and ensure justice prevails,” he said.

In light of the rising concerns over workplace harassment, NUBE thus reaffirmed its commitment to promoting a safe and respectful workplace for all employees.

The union also expressed its willingness to collaborate with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to achieve the minister’s objectives.

“Recent national police reports from 2023 highlighted the severity of the issue, with a total of 3,361 sexual harassment and assault cases recorded across the country,” said Solomon.

He also said that NUBE commended the Perak police for their swift action in investigating allegations of sexual harassment involving a bank operations officer in Bercham, Ipoh.

“We thank Perak police chief Datuk Azizi Mat Aris for acting promptly on the report by our union member, and we are confident that justice will prevail,” he said.

It was reported on Sunday that Nancy had proposed that the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 be amended as it was deemed necessary to enhance the effectiveness in preventing all incidents of sexual harassment at the workplace.

In highlighting the needs for the laws on sexual harassment to be extended to include organisational responsibility, she said the current laws were primarily focused on individuals, whereas there were gaps when it came to holding organisations accountable for the misconducts.

“We need to amend the existing legislation to ensure that organisations can be held liable if they fail to address the sexual harassment cases,” Nancy told the press after officiating at the ‘Jiwa Komuniti Madani’ programme for Santubong parliamentary constituency at Mydin Petra Jaya, here on Sunday.