The three Italian trade union federations CGIL-CISL-UIL have signed an agreement to oppose harassment in the workplace with the management of Siam, a company providing water services in the city of Siracusa in Sicily.
It is the first such agreement in the region and the local industrial sector. It is particularly important for women since workplace harassment is more likely to affect female workers.
The agreement draws on the European Framework Agreement on Harassment and Violence at Work adopted by the European Social Partners in 2007, and on more recent accords between Italian unions and employers aimed at implementing the framework provisions.
It commits both sides to cooperate in maintaining a working environment that respects the dignity of each person and to foster the principles of equality and fairness. It also establishes a Guarantee Commission, made up of company and worker representatives, who will assess allegations of harassment which, if proved, could lead to the company imposing sanctions.