The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has welcomed plans to ratify an international treaty aimed at eliminating violence and harassment in the workplace.

The International Labour Organisation Convention (ILO) Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190) aims to protect workers, irrespective of their contractual status – including interns, volunteers, job applicants, and individuals exercising the authority of an employer.

The treaty specifically highlights gender-based violence and harassment, and the impact of domestic violence on the world of work is also included. It applies to the public and private sectors, the formal and informal economy, and urban and rural areas.

In a submission to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, ICTU applauded the efforts within the Department to complete the ratification process before the end of 2022, and said it is ready to engage in whatever manner necessary to expedite this.

ICTU equality officer David Joyce said that one of the most important elements of the Convention is that it deals with the issue of domestic violence.

“This was a key demand of trade unions. Perpetrators of domestic violence can be colleagues, where the partners work for the same employer, and perpetrators can follow or stalk their partners at their workplace. We look forward to early ratification and stand ready to play our role in integrating this treaty into social dialogue and collective bargaining at national, sectoral and workplace level,” he said.

ICTU has long been part of a global campaign of unions working towards the ratification and implementation of this key ILO convention to tackle violence and harassment in the world of work.

“Violence and harassment at work, particularly gender-based violence, is a major problem in all parts of the world and in every sector. It destroys lives, denies women the chance to fulfil their potential and contributes to wider repression in society on the basis of people’s gender identity, ethnicity and social status. Everyone has the right to a world free from this,” said David.

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