having had any experience of harassment at their
workplace. Among those who acknowledged
having had experiences of harassment at the
workplace, the most commonly identified type
of harassment was constantly using obscene or
sexually suggestive language/remarks aimed at
the respondent or colleagues (3.6%). Remarkably
the percentage for both men and women who
have been subjected to this nature of harassment
is 3.4%. It is also to be noted that respondents
who reported being subjected to the constant
use of obscene or sexually suggestive language/
remarks were mostly from urban regions (6.2%)
as opposed 2.5% from outer islands.
It is concerning that 1.2% of the respondents
reported that someone at work forced them to
have sex with them against their will or attempted
to do so.
Table 75 :Type of harassment at work
Type of harassment
Ever
Another
employee,
or your boss, touched
you inappropriately at
work, such as rubbing
up against you, touch- 2.69%
ing you on the breasts
or bottom or patting,
pinching or stroking
you?
At work, constantly
uses obscene or sexually suggestive language/ remarks aimed
at you or your female
colleagues?
At work, persistently
suggested that you
have sex with him or
begin a sexual relationship?
At work, you were
shown/exposed to pornography or sexually
explicit photos, text
etc.
At work, threatened
you or implied trouble
if you did not have sex
with him or begin a sexual relationship?
At work, forced you
to have sex with him
against your will, or
attempted to do this
[forced Ziney]
Never
66.72%
In the past
2 years
RF
0.17%
DK/NA
2.35% 28.07%
3.54%
65.49%
0.67%
2.69% 27.61%
2.71%
66.67%
0.68%
2.54% 27.41%
1.72%
68.10%
0.17%
2.74% 27.27%
1.20%
68.85%
0.17%
2.58% 27.19%
1.22%
68.47%
0.17%
2.96% 27.18%
The decline in the percentage of the respondents
having experienced any of the listed behaviours
shows a positive improvement in the workplace.
Table 76 :Type of harassment at work,2005,2011,2019
Type of harassment
2005
2011
2019
Another employee, or your boss,
touched you inappropriately at work,
such as rubbing up against you, touching you on the breasts or bottom or
patting, pinching or stroking you?
7.30%
8.30%
2.69%
At work, constantly uses obscene
or sexually suggestive language/
remarks aimed at you or your female
colleagues?
17.50%
11.50%
3.54%
At work, persistently suggested that
you have sex with him or begin a
sexual relationship?
5.50%
5.40%
2.71%
At work, you were shown/exposed
to pornography or sexually explicit
photos, text etc.
1.50%
5.40%
1.72%
At work, threatened you or implied
trouble if you did not have sex with
him or begin a sexual relationship?
1.50%
4.10%
1.20%
At work, forced you to have sex with
him against your will, or attempted to
do this [forced Ziney]
2.00%
3.40%
1.22%
When respondents who reported t0 having been
subjected to some form of sexual harassment
were further asked about the type of actions
taken, most (82.2%) of the respondents replied
they ‘did not know’ and refused to answer.
Among those who disclosed how they responded
to the harassment; most (8.1%) people stated
that they did not do anything about it.
Respondents who stated not taking any action
following the harassment were then asked why
they did not pursue the matter. Interestingly
34.2% of respondents said they did not believe
it was serious enough and thought it was normal
behaviour. The second highest reason for nonaction was reported as fear that people would not
believe them (10.5%).
Only 1.0% said they reported the case to a
relevant authority such as Police, Ministry of
Gender, Family and Social Services or Island/Atoll
offices. Another 0.9% of the victims reported
that they complained to their superiors. No
respondents reported having filed a complaint
with the Employment Tribunal or the committees
established to investigate complaints of
this nature in every organization. It is to be
acknowledged that 5.5% of the victims told a
friend.
57