Saudi Arabia: Government looks to put an end to harassment of women at workplace

JEDDAH — Eve teasing and harassment of women at work is a problem everywhere. In Saudi Arabia, with the number of women in the workforce rising, the possibilities have also increased. To deal with the problem, Dr Saleh bin Humaid, president of the 150-member Shoura Council, has urged the committee for social, family and youth affairs to prepare the law as quickly as possible.

Faisal Ahmed Yamani, a member of the team involved in drafting the law, said the law would be presented to the Shoura soon for its approval. The committee of experts that includes Shoura Council members is preparing a draft to prevent the sexual harassment and molestation of women in the workplace.

Dr Saleh stressed the need for women to wear modest dress in the workplace in order to reduce the incidence of sexual harassment.

The new law defines sexual harassment and explains its various types and conditions. It defines the responsibility of the employer and his role in preventing improper behaviour in the workplace.

“The law also includes punishments as well as administrative and judicial measures to be taken against workers involved in sexual harassment,” Yamani explained.

“Molestation includes words or suggestions or movements that would hurt a person, whether man or woman. It also covers unwanted sexual advancements and suggestions, causing uneasiness and humiliation or mental pressure to a person, whether man or woman,” he said.

The law covers not only sexual harassment but also actions aimed at demoralising a person and worsening his condition in the workplace and so negatively affecting his rights, honour and health.

Yamani said that the new law protects women as well as men and added that there was a pressing need to set out regulations in order to prevent the sexual harassment of women in the workplace and provide them with a safe and secure atmosphere in which to work.

“If we study the Holy Quran and Sunnah, we find that Islam has addressed the issues of sexual harassment and demoralisation. We are not creating any new law,” he said.

Dr Mazen Baleelah, a member of the Shoura who raised the issue of harassment of women in the workplace, emphasised the importance of the new law in regulating the relations between men and women in the workplace. He was reported as saying that sexual molestation in workplaces must be monitored and those guilty must be given deterrent punishment.

He said that “the Saudi Labour Law protects both men and women from vocational hazards and urges employers to provide their workers with health insurance. But it does not mention the protection of the honour and chastity of women in the workplace. According to him, there should be regulations to maintain respectful relationships between men and women in the workplace.

By Habib Shaikh, Khaleej Times