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Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn said the amendments put
the onus on employers to ensure that their workplace was safe and a system was
in place to handle sexual harassment complaints and conduct internal inquiries.
<p>He said workers whose complaints of harassment were not taken up by their employers
could lodge a report with the ministry.</p>
<p>"Employers will be responsible for investigating sexual harassment complaints.
The amendments give legal backing to our code of ethics against sexual harassment,
which was not as well-received by companies as we had hoped for," Fong
said yesterday after his ministry’s post-cabinet meeting.</p>
<p>The Code of Practice on the Prevention and Eradication of Sexual Harassment
in the Workplace was launched by the ministry in 1999. To date, only 1,225 companies
have endorsed the code.</p>
<p>Fong said the amendments had been approved by employers and employees through
their representatives at the National Labour Action Council meetings.</p>
<p>The final draft of the amendments was submitted to the Attorney-General’s
Chambers three months ago.</p>
<p>The amendments only punish employers and not the sexual offenders, who will
be dealt with separately under the Penal Code.</p>
<p>Fong said the amendments were aimed at increasing productivity and giving workers,
especially those in the lower ranks, the confidence.</p>
<p>"They no longer need to be fearful," Fong said.</p>
<p>Other parts of the amendments include the appointment of sexual harassment
officers by employers to investigate complaints and to make recommendations
for further action.</p>
<p>Prior to this, the ministry had no power to compel employers to take action
on sexual harassment complaints.</p>
<p>Fong also announced the setting up of a commission of inquiry to investigate
disputes on wages and working hours in the hotel industry.</p>
<p>The commission has six months to question hotel employers, employees and other
industry stakeholders before recommending whether a wage council for hotel workers
should be convened.</p>
<p><i>Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/National/20070517075217/Article</i>
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