Harassment Among Female Employees in Sri Lankan Apparel Industry

Abstract

Workplace harassment is the threatening behavior directed at an individual worker or a group of workers. Workplace harassment has become a popular topic among professionals and researchers. Workplace harassment mainly consists of physical, verbal, psychological, and sexual harassment. But the rise of harassment among female apparel employees can be seen as a serious and sensitive topic that is not talked about much nowadays. The purpose of this study is to find out the reasons for the harassment among female employees in the apparel industry in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the research design of this research was semi-structured interviewed, which collects quality data and conducts it using a qualitative research methodology. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with female apparel employees selected from the snowballing technique to gain an in-depth understanding of the causes of harassment among female employees in Sri Lankan apparel industry. After coding the results of the study, the researcher found 17 reasons for the harassment as interference from a third party, doing the job well, neglect (non-surrender), related to clothes, jealousy, family problems, receiving promotions, misunderstand, pressure from higher levels, disbelief, arrogance, romantic relationships, to create distrust, surpassing the other's, incompetency, education, and long service period. According to the research findings are important in controlling the turnover, the reduction of absenteeism and workplace conflicts, and the increase in job satisfaction of female employees in the apparel industry in Sri Lanka. Under the basic guidelines of this research, the problems caused by the increase in harassment among female garment workers can be prevented. Organizing group activities that create a sense of unity and solidarity among female employees. These problems can be evaded by implementing economic and social empowerment programs for women workers and conducting counseling. This study will lead future researchers to conduct further studies on harassment based on gender. Based on this study, can be used as a guide to finding out the reasons for not reporting harassment incidents.