ILO training manual and course help employers to address and prevent violence and harassment at work

GENEVA (ILO news) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched a new training manual for enterprises to help them prevent and address violence and harassment at work. Created in response to a request from employer and business membership organizations (EBMOs), the manual is adaptable to specific national contexts.

“Promoting safe and respectful workplaces is a priority for the ILO’s employer constituents and their members. By helping businesses manage these critical issues, EBMOs can enhance their service offering, drive value for their members, and support sustainable, positive changes in the world of work. directly impacts enterprise performance,” said Deborah France-Massin, Director of the ILO Bureau for Employers’ Activities. 

The training material, which is a follow-up to the ILO’s 2022 Violence and Harassment at Work: a Practical Guide for Employers, is designed to be  used by EBMOs. With 45 ratifications in five years, the ILO’s Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190) is the fastest ratified ILO Convention of the past decade. The problem, however, remains pervasive. As of 2022, one out of five people worldwide have experienced violence and harassment at work. 

 “Tackling violence and harassment at work is not only a legal obligation but a fundamental duty to uphold dignity and safety for all at work and to create a fair and open workplace. It is also a critical step toward building sustainable, equitable, safe and healthy work environments that foster trust and boosts productivity and long-term success for both workers and enterprises alike,” said Sukti Dasgupta, Director of the ILO Conditions of Work and Equality Department.

The ILO has transformed the manual into a comprehensive training course with practical tools and strategies. It also includes policy and risk management templates, a staff survey, and three real-life video case studies showing how enterprises have successfully addressed and prevented violence and harassment at work.

Upon completing the course, enterprises will understand what constitutes violence and harassment in the world of work and have the tools that they need to assess risks, identify cases, and improve their existing policies and practices.

In November, eight African EBMOs joined the first two-day train-the-trainer workshop, led by the ILO and based on the new manual. The Association of Tanzania Employers, Business Eswatini, Business Unity South Africa, the Employers'​ Consultative Association of Malawi, the Federation of Kenya Employers, the Federation of Uganda Employers, the Ghana Employers Association, and the Rwanda Private Sector Federation participated in the workshop. With ILO support, they will adapt the material to their national contexts and roll the training out to their own enterprise members in the near future. 

The training manual was developed with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida.

For additional information and resources for EBMOs on violence and harassment at work please click here. 

For further information please contact:

Jae-Hee Chang

Senior Relations/Technical Specialist
Bureau for Employers’ Activities (ACT/EMP)

Email: changj@ilo.org 

Valentina Beghini

Legal Specialist on Violence and Harassment 

Gender, Equality and Diversity & Inclusion (GEDI) Branch 

Email: beghini@ilo.org