A new survey by Modern Women’s Foundation is calling attention to sexual harassment against women in the workplace. 43% of respondents say they have experienced sexual harassment at work. What’s more, only 10% of them felt able to lodge an official complaint. That’s according to results from an online questionnaire. The Modern Women’s Foundation announced the figures at a press conference on Monday, which is International Women’s Day.
The foundation’s online survey received responses from more than a thousand women about their experiences of harassment in the workplace. Respondents who had experienced harassment say the most common form was unwanted touching -- something experienced by almost two-thirds of respondents. That was followed by verbal harassment, including inappropriate references to sex in the workplace.
Almost 90% of respondents say their company did not take immediate action to solve the issue. And only 10% say they were willing to file a complaint.
The chairperson of Modern Women’s Foundation, Wang Ju-hsuan, says women are afraid to complain about workplace sexual harassment. She says that’s because they fear people won’t believe them. Also, women worry that filing a complaint will affect their work. She says that’s because women most often experience harassment from superiors, not from other colleagues.
According to government regulations, companies with over 30 employees have to take concrete steps to prevent sexual harassment. If not, they could face a fine of up to NT$50,000 (US$1,800). But Wang says that’s not enough. She is calling on authorities to do more to protect women in the workplace.