The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre is seriously concerned about recent reports being received regarding bullying and harassment in the workplace.
Centre Coordinator, Shamima Ali says discrimination based on gender has always been an issue but an emerging trend is discrimination against people with disabilities.
She says some business entities get a significant tax rebate if they employ people with disabilities.
Ali says some of these entities seem to be taking advantage of that provision but have continued to allow harassment and bullying against people with disabilities.
She says one of the comments that has come out is “the boss doesn’t want people with missing limbs”.
Ali says many people who report to them are living in fear and reluctant to come out publicly for fear of losing their job.
The Centre says some who have had the courage to come out, have been sacked, suspended or victimized in other ways for concocted reasons and called “troublemakers”.
Some of these reports are from prominent business institutions.
Ali also says it seems that despite zero tolerance policies for bullying and harassment, the issue is rife in workplaces.
She says it is difficult for some to find alternative employment because employers spread the word of them being “troublemakers” and are not given honest references.
They urge employers to offer the best ethical standards of practice for employees without discrimination, victimization and respecting their full human rights.
