Equal Opportunities Commission vows to close sex harassment loophole
Conference on gender issues hears Equal Opportunities Commission will press for protection for services staff against abuse by customers
Sexual harassment remains a major barrier to gender equality, especially in the workplace, the discrimination watchdog says.
But York Chow Yat-ngok hopes a bill to be discussed by the Legislative Council soon will improve the situation.
"On the issue of sexual harassment, there are many things that haven't been done," the Equal Opportunities Commission chairman said yesterday. "People are still not aware that some things they do will be considered sexual harassment."
There was already legislation against sexual harassment of employees, and customers could sue service providers for sexual harassment, Chow said. But he said those in service industries had no legal protection against sexual harassment by customers - a loophole the bill would seek to rectify after many complaints.
"It is likely the bill [will] pass. But for the section on employer liability it may take work to convince government and pro-establishment lawmakers."
Chow made the remarks after giving a speech at a conference, Women of Our Time, organised by the South China Morning Post yesterday. The gathering heard a survey had found women remain under-represented in top management. The survey, by consultancy firm Acorn, was conducted online in September. More than 500 people in managerial grades or leading teams in companies were surveyed.