A Bermuda representative took part in an international webinar as part of efforts to end violence and harassment at work.

Gabrielle Cann, the labour relations manager at the Ministry of Labour, was involved in the session last month.

The event was hosted by the International Labour Organisation’s Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean to raise awareness on the ILO Convention 190.

An agreement was made in June 2019 to address violence and harassment in the workplace.

The ILO Convention 190 and associated Recommendation 206 came into effect on June 25, 2021.

A government spokesman said: “Since that time, the ILO embarked on a global campaign for C190 to be ratified and implemented by national governments and legislative assemblies worldwide.”

He explained: “In 2018 and 2019, Bermuda sent a tripartite delegation consisting of representatives from the Ministry of Labour, the Bermuda Trade Union Congress and the Bermuda Employer's Council, which formed a part of the UK delegation, to attend the International Labour Conference and all became part of the Violence and Harassment Standard Setting Committee that produced C190.

“Having first-hand knowledge of the work that the ILC was doing regarding the adoption of C190, the Ministry of Labour embarked on a campaign to amend legislation and put measures in place to combat bullying, violence and sexual harassment in the workplace that some employees in Bermuda face.

“C190 provides a broad definition of violence and harassment and sets out the framework for prevention, protection, enforcement, remedies, guidance and training.

“The amendments to the Employment Act 2000, which came into force on June 1, along with the Bullying and Sexual Harassment Policy Statement and corresponding documents, mirror this and adopt a practical and victim-centred approach to the unacceptable behaviours associated with bullying and sexual harassment in the workplace.”

The virtual event on October 26 was moderated by Shireen Cuthbert of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean.

Panellists included Colin Jordan, the Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations in Barbados; Stephanie Fingal, the interim chief executive officer of the Employers' Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago; and Tonni Ann Brodber, a representative of UN Women Multi-Country Office.

Other panellists were Sharon Martin, the chairwoman of the National Tripartite Council of The Bahamas and president of the Women's Association of the country’s National Congress of Trade Unions; Erica Martin, a labour law and international labour standards specialist with the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean; and Chidi King, chief of the Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Branch of the ILO.

Remarks were given by Dennis Zulu, a director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean; and Lars Johansen, a deputy director.