Violence and harassment at work, defined by law. The government is introducing strict obligations for employers
The government adopted two draft laws that clearly define violence and harassment in labor relations and impose new protection measures for employees, including in the spaces associated with the workplace.
Employees at work PHOTO Archive
In Thursday's meeting, the Executive approved a project that establishes the concepts of violence and harassment at the workplace and the general principles of prevention, extending the protection of workers in work-related areas. A second normative act introduces additional obligations for employers, aimed at preventing violence and harassment in any form.
The normative act amends Law no. 53/2003 – The Labor Code, in the sense of defining the concepts of violence and harassment in the field of labor relations, as well as the general principles of preventing violence and harassment at the workplace, the Government transmits, through a press release.
At the same time, the law extends the scope of application of employee protection measures to other spaces associated with the workplace, such as:
– All public and private spaces, when they constitute a workplace;
– The places where the employee is paid, rests, eats or uses the sanitary facilities, washing facilities and changing rooms, provided by the employer;
– Travels in the interest of work, the period of training, training, events or social activities related to work;
– Online work-related communications.
The draft law approved by the Government will be sent to the Parliament for debate and adoption.
The draft law approved by the Government will be sent to the Parliament for debate and adoption, the Executive also states.
Another draft law adopted by the Government, for the amendment and completion of the Occupational Health and Safety Law no. 319/2006, amends and completes the Occupational Health and Safety Law no. 319/2006, by introducing new obligations for employers, with the aim of preventing violence and harassment, in all forms of manifestation.
The changes consist of:
-adopting and implementing a policy on workplace violence and harassment, which includes an internal mechanism for confidential reporting of cases of violence and harassment;
– the inclusion in the internal regulations of the rules regarding the prevention of violence and harassment, but also of the psychosocial risks associated with them;
– identifying and assessing risks together with unions or employee representatives;
– adequate information and training of workers on the identified dangers and risks of violence and harassment and on the associated prevention and protection measures, including on the rights and responsibilities of workers and other participants in the work process;
– the adoption of internal policies that include a confidential reporting mechanism.
Employers have 90 days from the publication in the Official Gazette of the new normative act to adapt their regulations and internal procedures to the new provisions. In case of non-compliance with these obligations, the document provides contraventional sanctions between 3,500 lei and 7,000 lei, applicable after the expiration of the 90-day period.
The draft law approved by the Government will be sent to the Parliament for debate and adoption.
