Steps to prevent violence, harassment at work

The Australian federal government has ratified two International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions during the annual ILO Conference. The ILO Convention No. 190 (Violence and Harassment) and ILO Convention No. 138 (Minimum Age) were ratified in Geneva at a tripartite ceremony. Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor was joined at the event during the ILO conference by ACTU President Michele O’Neil and employer representative Natalie Heazlewood.

The ILO Violence and Harassment Convention provides a comprehensive framework for governments and employers to prevent, address and reduce the risks of violence and harassment at work. The ACTU played a key role in the negotiations for the new Convention over the 2018 and 2019 International Labour Conferences and has campaigned for Australia to ratify it since the Convention was adopted in 2019.

Ratification of Convention 190 was also a recommendation of the Respect@Work Report. Now ratified, the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention will support the full extension of the 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave entitlement to all 12 million employees in Australia by September 2024.

The ILO Minimum Age Convention is one of the 10 ILO Conventions classified as “fundamental” and a key international instrument in the right to eliminate child labour and forced labour. ACTU President Michele O’Neil said all working people deserve to work in a safe environment, free from violence and harassment. The ILO Convention 190 recognises every worker’s right to be free from all forms of violence and harassment at work, including gender-based violence and harassment.

O’Neil said that the ratification of ILO Convention 190 will save lives and ensure that workers impacted by family and domestic violence don’t have to choose between their safety and their job. O’Neil welcomed the ratification of the ILO Minimum Age Convention, calling it “long overdue”.

“Recent child labour law breaches by Muffin Break, Red Rooster and Cold Rock show the importance of strong standards that protect children from exploitation. Australian Unions work every day to make workplaces safer and played a key role in the development of this groundbreaking Convention, and campaigning for its implementation. Australian unions have a long and proud history of campaigning for the rights of workers in Australia and around the world. Ratification of these two important ILO Conventions is Australia playing its part in upholding and implementing important international standards for workers,” O’Neil said.