The Government’s plan to tackle sexual harassment at work falls way short by not creating a legal duty on employers to tackle the problem, the TUC has said.

The union body was commenting on the Government’s December 2018 response to a Women and Equalities Select Committee report, which includes a new code of practice and a commitment to undertake consultations on legal protections and on additional protections for volunteers and interns.

Announcing the measures, Minister for Women Victoria Atkins said: “We are taking action to make sure employers know what they have to do to protect their staff, and people know their rights at work and what action to take if they feel intimidated or humiliated. Everyone has the right to feel safe at work.”

But TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “More than half of women in the UK have been sexually harassed at work, yet only one in five reports it. Sexual harassment has a huge impact on women’s careers and lives. So it’s disappointing that the Government is not making the major changes needed for the scale of the problem.”

She added: “The law should be changed so that employers are responsible for preventing sexual harassment in workplaces. This would shift the burden of tackling sexual harassment away from the victims. And it would help end toxic workplace cultures that silence those who’ve been harassed. Unions have been leading the way in tackling sexual harassment.”

The Government response included a clarification of the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) role on sexual harassment, noting the safety regulator would not apply health and safety laws “where another regulator or agency has specific responsibility or where there is more directly applicable legislation.”

The Government response said: “More formal liaison arrangements will be set up” between HSE and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), adding: “The HSE already works closely with other regulators to promote co-operation, share intelligence and where appropriate, co-ordinate on joint activities. HSE will work with EHRC to consider whether there are any other potential opportunities in this respect.”