Most workplace sexual harassment victims stay silent, survey finds

Jamie Liu

Over 30 percent of women have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace in the past three years, but 60 percent of the victims did not come forward, according to a survey.

The survey also found that over half of the companies have not drawn up policy statements or established complaint and handling procedures that can protect privacy.

The online survey, conducted jointly by Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, women's rights groups and business associations, interviewed 104 enterprises and 311 female employees last month.

Over 30 percent of the female employees claimed that they experienced sexual harassment at work, mostly involving language, text messages or physical contact.

Among these women, 60 percent took no action, 30 percent took the complaint to their superior, and only 9 percent reported to the police or filed a complaint with the Equal Opportunities Commission. In explaining their inaction, 17 percent of the victims did not think coming forward could be of any help, while 5 percent feared losing their jobs.

Elizabeth Quat Pei-fan, who chairs the DAB's women affairs committee,said: "Many firms talked about their ESG [environmental, social, and governance] initiatives ... but I have not heard any of them mention the prevention of workplace sexual harassment."