Govt urged to amend SOP on safety of women

PUTRAJAYA: The government has been urged to consider amending the standard operating procedure or laws concerning the safety of women at the workplace to prevent them from being harmed.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim (pix) said the assault of a female civil servant last Friday should be viewed seriously as it could jeopardise the government's objective of having women form 55% of the workforce.
This was a wake-up call because many, especially the dedicated workers, would be traumatised and afraid to work overtime, she added.
"We will discuss with all parties, including the Public Service Department, as improvement to the present SOP would involve all ministries and government agencies," she told reporters at the Putrajaya Hospital after visiting the Communications and Multimedia Ministry staff who was injured after she was attacked by a technician while working overtime.
The attack on the 30-year-old woman got the attention of various parties after a photograph of her covered in blood and asking for help was circulated on the internet.

She said the civil servant was still in a state of trauma and her ministry was prepared to provide counselling, if necessary.
"At present, a counsellor who is the victim's friend is constantly with her, besides her close family members," said Rohani who urged that stern action be taken against the attacker under the law so that such an incident does not occur again. – Bernama