Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development confirmed that in the event of harassment at a workplace, a report of bad behavior could be submitted through the electronic application of the ministry’s services called HRSD App.

The ministry emphasized that if the aggressor was the employer, the complaint would be lodged through the competent legal authorities, represented by police.

It stated that in the event of a behavioral infringement happened at a workplace, a complaint should be submitted to the establishment within five working days from the date of the occurrence of the bad behavior, and a copy of the complaint lodged with the establishment should be attached along with the complaint registered with HRSD application.

The app provides easy access to selected HRSD e-services and offers an excellent experience and efficient communication channels. It allows users to book an appointment, file a complaint or submit a grievance.

According to the ministry app, the violation of harassment falls under the violations of behavioral infringement, defining harassment as every word, act or implicit behavior or innuendo of a sexual nature by one individual against another one targeting that individual’s body, modesty or personal life.

Causing physical, psychological, sexual or economic harm to another party comes in the purview of harassment.

It constitutes all forms of exploitation or threat, extortion, enticement, quarreling, cursing or insult or prejudice modesty or deliberately secluding with the opposite sex or any form of physical or verbal discrimination.

The regulations also include misconduct among employees either during work hours or outside work hours.

It is noteworthy that through the HRSD app, a maximum of three types of violations can be reported daily against the designated establishments.

The application includes major classifications of violations, namely: violations of the Labor Law; violations related to behavioral infringement; violations of precautionary measures for establishments and individuals; violations of occupational safety and health; and violations of Saudization.

The violations of behavioral infringement includes assisting or covering up harassment; harassment (every word, act or gesture with a sexual connotation by a person towards any other person); the failure of the establishment to investigate or impose a disciplinary penalty on those who have been convicted of harassment; and failure of the establishment to form a committee to investigate cases of behavioral abuse at workplace.