Saudi workplace harassment charter calls for no gender mixing, personal discussions

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Labour and Development has reportedly approved a new charter against workplace harassment that sets conditions on interactions between male and female employees.

The 12-point charter considers harassment any action, deed, word or sign with sexual implications in the workplace by any means, including social media, according to Saudi Gazette.

Activities both inside and outside the workplace are included.

Among the key aspects of the charter is a call for ministry and government departments to avoid gender mixing in offices as much as possible to avoid harassment.

Other details include that male managers should only hold meetings in their office with female colleagues if the door is open and that men and women should never discuss personal matters seriously or jokingly.

Female staff are also called upon to dress modestly.

The kingdom is embarking on a push to encourage more women to enter the workforce under its Vision 2030 reforms.

However, strict rules on gender segregation are still in place, with most businesses required to sit men and women in separate rooms.

In September, authorities arrested an Egyptian man who filmed himself eating breakfast with a Saudi female colleague.

Read: Saudi authorities arrest Egyptian who ate breakfast with female coworker