Sexual harassment refers to sexual conduct that is unwanted, unwelcome or not requested. There are many forms of sexual harassment.
  • Verbal harassment: Offensive or suggestive remarks, comments, jokes, sounds or questioning.
  • Non-verbal/gestural harassment: Ogling with suggestive overtones, licking lips or holding or eating food provocatively, hand signal or sign language denoting sexual activity, persistent flirting.
  • Visual Harassment: Showing pornographic materials, drawing sex-based sketches or writing sex-based letters, sexual exposure.
  • Psychological: Repeated unwanted social invitations, relentless proposals for dates or physical intimacy
  • Physical harassment: Inappropriate touching, patting, pinching, stroking, brushing up against the body, hugging, kissing, fondling and sexual assault.
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Employment Act 1995 (2012 Revision)

SEXUAL HARASSMENT MEANS ANY UNWANTED CONDUCT OF A SEXUAL NATURE, WHETHER VERBAL, NON-VERBAL, VISUAL, GESTURAL OR PHYSICAL, DIRECTED AT A PERSON WHICH IS OFFENSIVE OR HUMILIATING OR IS A THREAT TO HIS WELL-BEING, ARISING OUT OF AND IN THE COURSE OF HIS EMPLOYMENT.​​
Under the Act (Part XVA - SEXUAL HARRASSMENT), complaints of sexual harassment means any complaint relating to sexual harassment made by a worker against another fellow worker, by a worker against their superior, or vice versa. If the sexual harassment is proven, disciplinary action will be taken such as dismissal without notice, downgrade the employee or suspension of wages.
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Section 509 of the Penal Code

WHOEVER, INTENDING TO INSULT THE MODESTY OF ANY PERSON, UTTERS ANY WORD, MAKES ANY SOUND OR GESTURE, OR EXHIBITS ANY OBJECT, INTENDING THAT SUCH WORD OR SOUND SHALL BE HEARD, OR THAT SUCH GESTURE OR OBJECT SHALL BE SEEN BY SUCH PERSON, OR INTRUDES UPON THE PRIVACY OF SUCH PERSON, SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH IMPRISONMENT FOR A TERM WHICH MAY EXTEND TO FIVE YEARS OR WITH FINE OR WITH BOTH.
Workers may also be prosecuted under the Penal Code Section 509 where a person found guilty may be sent to jail, or fine, or both.

What can you do if you are sexually harassed?
  • Tell the harasser that his behaviour is unwelcome, and you want it to stop.
  • Talk to someone at school, in your workplace/organisation that can help you.
  • Record details of each event, including date and time, location, how you felt, any witnesses.
  • If it is at school or work, make a formal complaint letter.
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