ILO Convention on Ending Violence and Harassment in the World of Work: ETI letter

ETI will send a letter to the UK government on behalf of its members, urging it to give full support to the ILO convention. See the draft below. Brands currently supporting the letter include: Primark, ASOS, Union Hand-roasted, Appetito, Marshalls, Orsay, Mr Price, Boden, Oliver Bonas, Whistles, Hobbs, Phase Eight, John Lewis Partnership (Waitrose),  BBS Granite Concepts Limited, Seasalt, CED Stone Group, M&Co, Regatta.

Re: ILO convention on ending violence and harassment in the world of work

The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is an alliance of global companies, trade unions and non-governmental organisations working in partnership to improve conditions for workers around the world.

ETI company members are responsible businesses committed to tackling workers’ rights and protections in their supply chains, which among other things includes violence and harassment at work.

As you will know, violence and harassment at work, especially against women, has been the subject of high-profile media coverage recently. However, for many women and men in factories, farms and ships around the world their workplace reality is still one dominated by  fear.

While ETI members actively work to eliminate such practice, the sad reality is that broader industry worldwide still has much to do.

We therefore urge you, as representatives of the UK Government [Confederation of British Industry (CBI)] to fully support the ILO Convention on Ending Violence and Harassment in the World of Work being considered at this years International Labour Conference (ILC) from 10-21 June 2019.

Our collective wish is that the Convention not be compromised for the sake of wide ratification. Although wide ratification is of course desirable, it must not come at the expense of strong, effective commitments and clear guidance in the Convention and Recommendation – which will ensure workers everywhere are safe from violence and harassment at work

If passed, this will help level the playing field for all, ensuring countries take note and provide the protection at work that all should enjoy. If agreed, this landmark convention would ensure that all workers have increased protection from violence and harassment, which carries an enormous cost to individual workers and businesses through lost productivity and increased staff turnover.

We fully support the adoption of the Convention as we believe it will lay the foundation for establishing workplaces free from violence and harassment for all workers.

Yours sincerely,

Peter McAllister

Executive Director
Ethical Trading Initiative