Sexual Harassment in Malaysia Employment Act Soon

Come next March, the Malaysia Employment Act will be amended to include clauses on sexual harassment in the workplace. The Human Resources Minister, Datuk Dr S Subramaniam, told the Parliament that amendments to the Employment Act will be tabled in the next few months.

Such amendments will also include the role of the employer, the director-general and the ministry when a complaint is made regarding sexual harassment.

Another amendment to be made on similar time, which is not related to sexual harassment, is the installation of 16 September date as a gazette public holiday in Malaysia.

Up until recently, employers are required to put sexual harassment code in place which merely acts as a guideline and come without penalties. And really, people have been neglecting and taking sexual harassment for granted and many of the innocent ladies in fact consider it as part of the working life.

Now, things have changed and with the clause coming into picture, workers, especially women, are now more empowered to take things to the next level when they feel they are being subject for victimization. Issues recently highlighted by the NGOs and human resources practitioners regarding the sexual harassment problems practitioners are indication of more good things to come, and are signs of an increase of awareness towards protection in workplace.

Sexual harassment can be generally defined as the uninvited, unwelcome or unwanted sexual behavior shown by a person towards another person, which can be offensive, derogatory, embarrassing, humiliating and intimidating in nature, and can lead to stress, anger and disability to perform his or work in peace. Such behavior can include comments, remark (verbally or in written), the nature of looking, or simply a direct sexual advance.

Other posts you may want to read:

1. Sexual Harassment Course May be Made Compulsory
2. Sexual Harassment: Women in Contract Job More Prone
3. Sexual Harrassment in the Workplace
4. Indonesian Maids Get One Day Off
5. Malaysia Employment Laws To Be Amended
6. Humor At The Work Place?
7. New Employees Prone to Workplace Injury
8. Labour and Employment Laws in Malaysia

Author's bio: Zul is the founder and principal contributor for the SKOR Career blog. He is the author of two books, The Malaysian Job Seeker's Dilemma and Buat Duit Tanpa Kerja Makan Gaji (How to Make Money Without a Job), available in major book stores nationwide. You can reach him at zulkiflimusa[at]gmail.com.