Veteran trade unionist Danny Roberts has called on the Government to swiftly ratify the International Labour Organization (ILO) convention to end violence and harassment in the workplace, as a further demonstration of Jamaica's commitment to the global anti-sexual harassment campaign.

“In the same way that the Bill is seeking to have employers demonstrate their level of commitment and seriousness to the anti-sexual harassment campaign, [it] is the same way that the Government of Jamaica must demonstrate its seriousness and commitment to the anti-sexual harassment campaign by ratifying Convention 190 [C190 — Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019] as soon as possible,” Roberts said, pointing out that countries such as Argentina, Finland, Spain, and Uruguay have formally committed to ratify.

Roberts, who heads the Hugh Shearer Labour Studies Institute, made the call yesterday in his submission to the joint select committee of Parliament, which is reviewing the Sexual Harassment Act.

The ILO Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 applies to violence and harassment in the world of work that happens in the course of, is linked with, or arising out of work in the workplace.

He suggested, too, that the tribunal for sexual harassment matters should be constituted as a division of the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT), instead of a separate entity, and given that the offence is a workplace-related issue, the provisions of the Labour Relations and Industrial Disputes Act (LRIDA) would also become relevant.