LETTERS: DISCRIMINATION in the workplace has become common.
How do companies handle matters regarding gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, faith, pregnancy, maternity and disability?
The most common form of discrimination is based on gender. Many women employees claim they have experienced at least one form of discrimination in the workplace.
Women are by far the most discriminated against in the workplace. Even though more women are employed, the salary difference between men and women remains large in most nations.
Women are much more likely to be employed in low-paying and insecure positions.
On top of that, workplace discrimination can take more open and threatening forms known as workplace harassment.
Sexual harassment can take the form of obscene jokes and allusions, intrusive body contact and inappropriate gestures.
Most sexual harassment complaints in the workplace are mostly from women.
Most cases of sexual harassment are also underreported because victims think that nothing will be done and sometimes the harassed persons want to avoid harming the culprits.
Women's Aid Organisation executive director Sumitra Visvanathan said: "There is a need for provisions to protect against gender discrimination as well as for longer maternity and paternity leave, and other policies that allow for the more equal sharing of care responsibilities that facilitate women staying in the workforce."
As laws are amended and enforced, more people will adhere to these new standards. This in itself will improve norms and understanding.
However, amending laws and policies are not enough. This needs to be followed by mass communication efforts about the issue, apart from awareness campaigns in companies and communities.
Nurul Nadzirah Mohamed
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times