The International Labour Office (the permanent secretariat of the International Labour Organization) has prepared the texts for both a draft convention and a draft recommendation on ending violence and harassment in the world of work based on the initial discussion that was held in may 2018 during the International Labour Conference (c.f. article No. 10718). The Convention would oblige the ratifying States to equip themselves with the appropriate judicial means to prohibit and sanction violence and harassment at work. In particular they must recommend employers take appropriate measures to anticipate such activities and in particular ‘take into account violence and harassment and associated psychosocial risks in the management of occupational safety and health,’ and adopt, after consultation with employees and their representatives, a policy addressing all forms of violence and harassment.
These draft documents are included in a report published on 08 August 2018, and in it the Office stands firm on some particularly contentious issues. On the notion of the worker, which the employers’ bodies criticize is too broad; the Office is maintaining its initial proposal and invoked its goal of ‘ensuring broad protection against violence and harassment in all aspects of employment and occupation.’ Thus according to the Office, included in the scope are all those in training, interns, apprentices, workers whose employment has been terminated, volunteers, jobseekers and job applicants.’
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