Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports, Olivia Grange says the Sexual Harassment Act is set to commence on Monday (July 3rd, 2023).

Grange who made the announcement in Parliament on Tuesday (June 13) said that mechanisms are now sufficiently in place to enable the efficient operation of the Sexual Harassment Tribunal.

The Sexual Harassment Tribunal will hear and determine complaints of sexual harassment and make formal judgements based on complaints by a worker of the employer’s failure to act on their complaints.

Minister Grange said: ” I use this opportunity to remind every employer and person in charge of an institution of their responsibility to ensure that the policy statement required under the Sexual Harassment Act is prepared and brought to the attention of each worker, client, student, resident, ward, inmate, patient or member, as the case may require-within 12 months of the commencement date.”

She also outlined that the Bureau of Gender Affairs has also been holding sexual harassment sensitisation sessions with public and private organisations, schools, and community-based and faith-based organisations.

“I continue to urge the public to take sexual harassment seriously. It is not a simple matter, but rather a serious crime that affects quality of life by creating an intimidating, hostile and offensive environment,” the Minister said.

The Sexual Harassment (Protection and Prevention) Act, was officially rolled out on April 2, 2022, to address concerns about sexual harassment that is employment-related, occurring in institutions, or arising in the landlord and tenant relationship.

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