Politics and Analysis

Good intentions, but nothing new in convention on violence and harassment

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On 21 June, the International Labour Organisation adopted a convention and a number of recommendations that are to contribute to the prevention of violence and harassment in workplaces around the world. The Confederation of Danish Employers supports the spirit of the convention, but does not view it as a suitable tool for bringing the efforts against vio-lence and harassment in other countries up to the level of efforts seen in Denmark.

For two years, the Confederation of Danish Employers has negotiated in the International Labour Organisation which is a UN agency for international cooperation between governments, employers and employees. The subject of the negotiations was a new convention and a set of associated recommendations to prevent violence and harassment in the labour market. 

The Confederation of Danish Employers supports the spirit of the convention, but believes that in some areas it goes too far in its wording and definitions. That is why the Confederation of Danish Employers abstained.

Pernille Knudsen, Deputy Director General of the Confederation of Danish Employers, states:

- Violence and harassment has no place in any workplace. Not in Danish workplaces or in workplaces anywhere in the world. The convention makes this clear, and this is a message that we fully support.

- In Denmark, the Danish model and our long-standing tradition of cooperation between the two sides of industry is fundamental to ensure good conditions in the workplace. In a Danish context, we already have very far-reaching employer responsibilities, strong working environment inspection and comprehensive legislation in this area.

- We believe, however, that it will be difficult for the convention to contribute to combating violence and discrimination in the workplace at a global level. But the Confederation of Danish Employers will continue its commitment and contribute to ensuring that we raise global awareness of the unacceptable working conditions that employees, managers and enterprises face in many parts of the world on a daily basis.”