We, on behalf of All India Railwaymen’s Federation, the biggest labour organization in India, representing more than 1.2 million Railwaymen in India, support the International Labour Organization(ILO) Convention on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work……

No.AIRF/31-D(G) Dated: March 5, 2019

Hon’ble Minister of State(IC),
Ministry of Labour & Employment,
(Government of India),
Shram Shakti Bhawan, Rafi Marg,
New Delhi-110001

Respected Sir,

We, on behalf of All India Railwaymen’s Federation, the biggest labour organization in India, representing more than 1.2 million Railwaymen in India, support the International Labour Organization(ILO) Convention on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work.

AIRF urges the Government of India to support a New ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment at the Conference in June 2019.

AIRF believes that, here is a need for a specific international legal instrument focusing on Violence and Harassment, including Gender Based Violence(GBV), in the world of work, as no such instrument currently exists. Whilst some existing ILO instruments refer to violence and/ or harassment, these instruments do not define what is understood by violence or harassment, do not provide guidance on how to address its various forms and do not cover all workers. The social media storm, expressed through #me too, # Time up,#Balance Tonporc,#QuellaVoltaChe and others, as well as mainstream media coverage of cases of sexual harassment and violence in the world of work, shows how urgently these instruments are needed.

Two-third of women around the world, experiencing intimate partner violence, are in employment. This means that, their path to escape most likely affects their work life. They plan, they find accommodation, they seek police assistance, they attend court dates, they arrange counselling and medical attention for their children – they do all this while trying to navigate work. Lack of economic independence can also keep women trapped in violent relationships.

We believe that, India can play significant role in establishing a new set of the ILO standards on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work. By supporting new ILO standard, in the form Convention and recommendations, the Government would signal “Zero Tolerance for Violence and Harassment” as well as contributing to goals 5 and 8 of the UN 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development – on Gender Equality and Decent Work respectively.

We welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this matter further at a time of your convenience.

 

 

 

Copy to: ITF Delhi Office – for information.

No.AIRF/31-D(G) Dated: March 5, 2019

Hon’ble Union Cabinet Minister,
Ministry of Women & Child Development,
(Government of India),
New Delhi

Respected Sir,

We, on behalf of All India Railwaymen’s Federation, the biggest labour organization in India, representing more than 1.2 million Railwaymen in India, support the International Labour Organization(ILO) Convention on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work.

AIRF urges the Government of India to support a New ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment at the Conference in June 2019.

AIRF believes that, here is a need for a specific international legal instrument focusing on Violence and Harassment, including Gender Based Violence(GBV), in the world of work, as no such instrument currently exists. Whilst some existing ILO instruments refer to violence and/ or harassment, these instruments do not define what is understood by violence or harassment, do not provide guidance on how to address its various forms and do not cover all workers. The social media storm, expressed through #me too, # Time up,#Balance Tonporc,#QuellaVoltaChe and others, as well as mainstream media coverage of cases of sexual harassment and violence in the world of work, shows how urgently these instruments are needed.

Two-third of women around the world, experiencing intimate partner violence, are in employment. This means that, their path to escape most likely affects their work life. They plan, they find accommodation, they seek police assistance, they attend court dates, they arrange counselling and medical attention for their children – they do all this while trying to navigate work. Lack of economic independence can also keep women trapped in violent relationships.

We believe that, India can play significant role in establishing a new set of the ILO standards on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work. By supporting new ILO standard, in the form Convention and recommendations, the Government would signal “Zero Tolerance for Violence and Harassment” as well as contributing to goals 5 and 8 of the UN 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development – on Gender Equality and Decent Work respectively.

We welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this matter further at a time of your convenience.