Labor conference - live: 'Foolish' to ignore lessons from past election defeats, Blunkett warns Starmer

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The Labor Party has unveiled new plans to tackle sexual harassment in the workplace. New figures show almost five million women are victims of this type of behavior at work every year. New proposals unveiled by Labor deputy leader Angela Rayner would legally require employers to “ "stop sexual harassment before it starts" by implementing measures to prevent sexual harassment.

Ms Rayner, shadow secretary of state, told The Independent< /em> that sexual harassment was "widespread" and warned that such behavior was "destroying careers and ruining women's lives".

Speaking at the Labor Women's Conference on Saturday, Ms Rayner said the cases which have recently hit the headlines "are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the experiences of millions of women in workplaces across Britain".

The latest data from the Government Equalities Office. reveals that three in ten women currently in work have experienced some form of sexual harassment at work or in a work-related environment in the last year.

Labour's analysis of the data estimates that Some 4.7 million women are forced to endure sexual harassment at work every year – with 17 percent of those who are harassed choosing to change jobs after experiencing sexual harassment each year and 41 percent of perpetrators experiencing no sanction.

The new duty will be reinforced by a statutory code of practice on sexual harassment and harassment in general, which sets out the steps employers must take to comply with this duty. Labor said this could include “effective, well-publicized policies and procedures for tackling sexual harassment in the workplace, providing training and assessing foreseeable risks.”

Ms Rayner argued that “ everyone should be able to go to work.” safe from sexual harassment, knowing that their employer has taken steps to create a safe working environment."

She added: "Good employers already create work cultures that do not tolerate sexual harassment and take measures to prevent it. their watch. Labor will ensure this happens at every level.

Labor explained that their new proposals would mean employers would be liable if they are informed of an incident...