Union training on violence and harassment in the world of work

The training was held in three different locations: Bucharest, Sibiu, and Iași, with the aim of making it accessible to as diverse a group of participants as possible, from various sectors and regions across the country. This geographical distribution builds upon the reality that violence and harassment in the world of work affects workers in all sectors and regions of the country, where they face abuse and intimidation.

At the start of each session, we were joined by representatives from trade unions’ women’s committees or organisations in order to highlight the importance of structures representing women, as well as encourage their establishment in places where they do not yet exist. Across the three sessions, we heard from Florentina Enache, representing CNSLR‑Frăția, Laura Olteanu, chair of Cartel Alfa’s Women’s Committee, and Dănuța Duminica vice-chair of the BNS Women’s Organisation respectively.

Over the course of two days, union leaders and members came together in a process of dialogue and reflection, shared experiences from their own organisations, and discussed specific challenges they face in their own union activity.

Participants learned about the practical tools needed to identify, prevent, and address cases of harassment and violence in the world of work. In a context where experiences are often downplayed, normalised, hidden, or treated as individual problems, the program emphasised that violence and harassment are collective, structural issues that require collective responses and organised solidarity.

A central focus point of the program was the analysis of legal frameworks through the lends of the ILO Convention no. 190, a discussion facilitated by legal expert Cristina Casian. During this session, participants discussed the practical implications of these regulations, as well as the responsibilities of employers and trade unions in implementing them.

In this context, it became clear that violence and harassment must be addressed not only from a legal perspective, but also as essential aspects of occupational health and safety, with a direct impact on workers’ physical and mental well-being. Talking about these phenomena, therefore, means talking about working conditions, power dynamics, and the fundamental right of every person to work with dignity and without fear.

The role of trade unions was discussed at length, both in terms of prevention and in supporting at-risk individuals and survivors. Through teamwork, effective intervention practices were analysed, as well as the risks associated with inappropriate approaches. During these activities facilitated by gender equality experts from ALEG, the importance of establishing safe mechanisms and spaces where workers can report experiences of harassment without fear or stigmatisation or retaliation was emphasised. Unions must be not merely observers of these situations, but active agents of change, capable of intervening firmly, offering concrete support, and ensuring that dignity in the world of work is respected.