"The potential for male workers to experience sexual violence is also possible, so protection is not only for women," she observed on the sidelines of a working visit to a cigarette production site in Karangbener village, Bae sub-district, Kudus district, Central Java province, on Wednesday.
According to her, the guidelines will be formulated to prevent sexual violence in the work environment. In the future, the guidelines will also require that a task force be set up at workplaces to prevent sexual violence.
"Cases that require a worker to spend the night at a hotel with the boss in order to extend the work contract cannot happen again in the future. We do not want this to become an iceberg phenomenon," the minister emphasized.
The case pertaining to a female worker at a West Java company who was asked to spend the night in a hotel room with her boss to extend her work contract could invite punishment under Law Number 12 of 2022 Concerning Sexual Violence (TPKS Law). The case has been handed over to the police.
During her visit to the cigarette production site, Fauziyah inquired about the fulfillment of the company's obligations to provide health protection to its workers, especially women who have recently given birth.
Based on the provisions, pregnant workers need to be granted leave 45 days before and 45 days after giving birth. The cigarette production company has complied with the regulation, including providing preventive and protective protection.
Later, the Directorate General of Labor Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health (Ditjen Binwasnaker and K3) and the director general of industrial relations will also socialize guidelines on preventing sexual harassment and violence in the workplace and handling tuberculosis (TB) in the workplace, she added.
Related news: Ministry provides trauma support to 11 young sexual violence victims
Related news: Women's sexual harassment most frequently reported violence in 2022
Translator: Akhmad Nazaruddin, Resinta S
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
