Zimbabwe’s Labour Relations Act on sexual harassment has been amended. It is now awaiting its second reading stage with the Senate National Assembly before it goes to the President for signing.
Students and women workers facing sexual harassment in workspaces in Zimbabwe can now breathe a sigh of relief following the amendment of the Labour Act on sexual harassment. Though sexual harassment may easily be put in the same category as rape in Zimbabwe, the legal system seemed to treat it as a light offence, with no remedies to address the psychological harm experienced by the victim nor measures to protect the victims from future harm. The Labour Relations Act defined sexual harassment through inference without providing the means of calculating compensation concerning the harm caused by perpetrators to victims.
In bolstering common interests in safeguarding women’s bodily integrity, Emthonjeni Women’s Forum (EWF) mobilised and engaged Parliamentary Portfolio Committees, various labour and student movements, ordinary women and women’s rights organisations to raise awareness and sensitise them on the need for amending the Labour Act to address sexual harassment in workplaces.
With funding from UAF-Africa, EWF submitted a petition to the Parliament of Zimbabwe to amend the Labour Act Section 8. This advocacy move was amplified through social media, radio networks and the Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) with a draft proposed amendment premised on the International Labour Organisations Convention 190 and presented to the parliamentary portfolio.
Women’s movements within labour unions actively ensured that the amendment went through. This petition led to the Cabinet declaring an amendment of Section 8 of the Labour Act [ Chapter 28:01].
Following this move, more women are now reporting cases of sexual harassment in the workplace, and companies are acting swiftly even before the passing of the Bill into Law.
“Students are harassed by lecturers in tertiary institutions as well as when they go for attachment; the amendment to the Labour Act will go a long in ensuring the safety and protection of all students.” Reiterates Racheal Voko, EWF student ambassador
