Frankfurt – On November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, IG Metall is calling on the German government to put pressure on the European level to ratify ILO Convention 190. This regulates the right to a working environment free of violence and harassment. This can then be translated into national law.
Every sixth woman in Germany has already experienced sexual harassment at work, every third woman experiences physical and/or sexual violence in her life. In many places, however, control and prevention suffer from unwillingness and a blocking attitude, including ILO Convention 190.
Christiane Benner, Deputy Chairwoman of IG Metall: “Violence against and oppression of women must finally be a thing of the past, blocking it is incomprehensible. We see how courageously the women, but also men in Iran, stand up against an oppressive regime and for their freedom. These inspiring, fearless people should spur us on to stand up for women, life, freedom.”
Like many other places, for many women the workplace is not the safe place it should be. Sexual harassment, psychological or physical violence, but also hatred in the digital space often means that women are only able to do their work with fear.
Christiane Benner emphasizes the important role of trade unions in the fight against this: “A safe world for women must also include a safe working world. As a trade union, we are committed to this every day, but especially on this day. With the strong commitment to company contact points within the meaning of the General Equal Treatment Act, which are now to be set up by the employer. With works agreements that promote and regulate partnership-based behavior in the workplace. And with constant support and further training opportunities for women, who thus appear as strong players in the company. The constantly growing number of works council members encourages us on this path.”
The ratification of the ILO Convention would mean another important step towards a non-violent working world. In order for working conditions to really improve, however, the signatory states must incorporate it into national law, implement it and ratify it. Since the contents of European regulations are affected, the European Council must first authorize EU member states to ratify them. But some member states are blocking it. IG Metall does not consider this attitude to be right and is therefore calling on the federal government to put more pressure on it.