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Description
The objective of the project was improved social dialogue and cooperation on the topic of prevention and elimination of workplace violence and harassment, through the development of new and improvement of existing structures and practices for social dialogue, training of social partners and strengthening the bipartite and tripartite dialogue and consultations in the area of occupational health and safety and gender equality in order to eliminate violence and harassment and to improve working conditions in Croatia.
The project responded to a challenge in Croatia, where workplace violence and harassment have not been systematically addressed. Despite the adoption of the Gender Equality Act in 2003 and the existence of an Ombudsperson for Gender Equality, research on the topic was lacking, and it was not integrated into occupational health and safety or social dialogue frameworks. A survey conducted in April 2020 among female trade union representatives highlighted the importance of addressing this issue.
The project aimed to raise the capacity of social partners to participate in social dialogue, establish new structures, improve existing ones, and support legislative improvements. It included activities such as research on workplace violence and harassment, public events to present findings, development of collective bargaining agreement provisions, and protocols for prevention and sanctioning of workplace violence. Additionally, the project conducted training sessions, meetings with stakeholders, and a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of eliminating workplace violence and harassment.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the issue of workplace violence and harassment in Croatia, which had not been systematically tackled despite the existence of the Gender Equality Act and an Ombudsperson for Gender Equality. The lack of research on the prevalence and effects of workplace violence and harassment, and the absence of these issues in occupational health and safety and social dialogue frameworks, were key challenges. The project sought to improve social dialogue structures and practices, raise awareness, and strengthen bipartite and tripartite cooperation to prevent and eliminate workplace violence and harassment.
conducted a comprehensive study on workers'' exposure to violence and harassment in the workplace and organised events to present the research findings. Provisions and protocols for preventing, supervising, and sanctioning workplace violence and harassment were developed and incorporated into collective bargaining agreements. Bipartite and tripartite meetings were held to discuss and improve the legislative framework. The project also conducted eight training sessions for social partners on good practices for combating violence and harassment, launched a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of eliminating workplace violence and harassment, and presented all project activities and outcomes at a final conference.
The project achieved significant results, exceeding initial expectations. It strengthened cooperation and trust between social partner entities, especially at the company level, resulting in the signing of four collective bargaining agreements with progressive provisions on workplace violence and harassment. The project influenced changes to the labour act and contributed to the national plan for the suppression of sexual violence and harassment. More than 50 stakeholder institutions participated in the project activities, with over 40 professional staff members and 190 volunteers trained. The project positively impacted the structures of workers'' representation, with an increase in female representation in the workers'' council of Croatian Motorways and the initiation of women''s committees in trade unions. It raised awareness within the trade union about women''s exposure to violence and harassment and the importance of their participation in workers'' representation bodies. The project also provided a platform for representatives of employers, employees, and relevant institutions to discuss workplace violence and harassment constructively, leading to positive feedback and further engagement.
The beneficiaries of the project included trade union members, social partners, employers, employees, and relevant institutions involved in social dialogue and workplace safety. The project contributed to creating a safer and more equitable working environment in Croatia.