"Women at work are at high risk of being sexually harassed by their employers or colleagues, but they feel ashamed and are afraid to report the cases," said Miyamoto at the launch of the "Handbook of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace for Entrepreneurs" in Jakarta, on Thursday.
She further said that the ILO has encouraged the Indonesian Government to ratify regulations at the workplace as per the ILO Conventions.
She pointed out two ILO Conventions; number 100 about men and women receiving equal payment for the same assignment, and number 111, about discrimination in employment and occupation.
"They are important because the two conventions are basically connected with equality in employment," said Miyamoto.
She also stated that the President`s Instruction Number 9 from the year 2000 was not strong enough as an umbrella of the law for gender equality.
According to Miyamoto, the ratification would strengthen legal regulations for gender equality in employment.
"If there was stronger legal protection for employees, especially women, they would not feel ashamed or afraid to take the cases to court," she added.
Miyamoto further said that the `shame culture` was a dangerous barrier for female employees in Indonesia and came in the way of them standing up for their equal rights.
"We should also change people`s opinions about the subject being taboo, and that reporting sexual harassment is not a shameful thing to do," she said.
Miyamoto added, "We also should change the opinion about what is acceptable or unacceptable, what is polite or impolite."
The "Handbook of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace for Entrepreneurs" has been published by the Indonesian Entrepreneurs Association (APINDO), in partnership with ILO Indonesia, as a preventive measure to eliminate sexual harassment to employees at the work place.
The launch was held to coincide with the celebration of World Women`s Day, which is every year on March 8.
(A060/KR-BSR/H-YH)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
