Documents CITUB 4 results

"This report analyses the specific characteristics of sexual harassment at the workplace (SHW) in Bulgaria based on desk research and primary data collection through quantitative (online survey with 839 respondents) and qualitative methods (4 in-depth interviews with victims of SHW; expert focus group). With 18.9% of the survey respondents reporting a SHW experience, the results show that SHW is an occurring issue especially for women (accounting for more than 80% of the reported victims), but strongly suggest that the lack of awareness towards the topic make it hard for people to recognise its manifestations. There is a high rate of dissatisfaction with how SHW cases are handled, with many reports resulting in no action taken by employers. This lack of response exacerbates distrust towards institutions and leads to high turnover costs for organisations and even higher personal and professional cost for SHW victims. Awareness of protections against SHW is notably low, with only 35% of respondents perceiving their employers as proactive in prevention, education, and sanctioning. This unawareness hinders preventative actions, as many workers only seek information on rights and reporting mechanisms after experiencing or witnessing harassment.
SHW is often downplayed and not perceived as a serious issue which in reverse discourages victims to report cases and seek protection. Younger women in the beginning of their career path are particularly vulnerable towards SHW. The data suggest that victims of SHW are often in a lower position in the workplace hierarchy than the perpetrators. Non-union members report more often cases of SHW than union members. Respondents look to unions to advocate for robust anti-SHW policies, awareness campaigns, and workplace equality coordinators, indicating a need for stronger union presence, especially in less unionized industries. The report´s findings indicate that current legislation against SHW, though in place, suffers from inconsistent enforcement and gaps in harmonization across workplace policies and legal frameworks. Survey and interview respondents call for a clearer and more comprehensive definition of SHW, as well as zero-tolerance policies underpinned by company-level protocols and training that foster a collective work culture against SHW. To address these needs, policy recommendations focus on engaging national authorities, employers, trade unions, and academia in a multi-level strategy, from legislative reforms to company-specific support systems."

"This guide gives an overview of the background to, principle actors in, and essential tools of, EU occupational health and safety policy with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of this policy and of facilitating effective intervention at European level. It is aimed primarily at worker representatives responsible for health and safety at work and union officials involved in this area. It will also be useful to anyone with an interest in EU policy developments or involved in preventing occupational risks."

"The DIRECT Project, promoted by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB), is focused on trends in direct employee participation in six EU Member States. Its aim is to determine the extent of direct participation in these various countries; to compare different national trends; to analyse the reasons for the development of direct participation; to identify the impact of direct participation on the employment relationship at company level; and to promote the positive impact direct participation on employee representation and industrial relations at the company level. "