The Sexual Harassment (Protection and Prevention) Act was passed in 2021 but came into effect on Monday, July 3. Under the law, workplaces and institutions are required to issue sexual harassment policies and bring those policies to the attention of employees. The policy should advise how complaints of sexual harassment should be reported and addressed.

According to the International Labor Organization, sexual harassment is a series of repeated, unsolicited, non-reciprocal, and fully imposed harassments by the perpetrator that can have serious undesirable effects on the person in a workplace, school, church, home, and public spaces.

OBSERVER ONLINE took to the streets of Half- Way-Tree recently to hear what Jamaicans think of this new law. Do individuals feel more protected now that there are implications stipulated by law to hold persons accountable for their actions? Will the new act be a deterrent for perpetrators? Here’s what some had to say:

1. Chadrick Grant, 19 years old, Security guard — It sound good because things use to happen and nothing, no action nah take. Things a happen and nobody nah take no action. It good fi see da step up yah because when a man a look pan a million dollars, him nah go wah do nuh wrong.

2. Shantal McNaughton, 31 years old, JUTC worker — It will shed a highlight out there for others and let them know that they don’t have to be afraid because there are actually persons out there willing to listen them or their betterment.

3. Sha’kwun, retail sales person — I have (experienced sexual harassment in the workplace) especially with male bosses. They tend to bribe yuh or want to hold somethings over yuh head. Like especially the money that you’re working for, dem tell yuh say yuh nah go get yuh full money if yuh nuh do dis or if yuh sleep wid me mi can make yuh life better. I was attending nursing school at one point and I was working for this place and the owner told me that if I had sexual relations with him, he’d pay my school fee for me and he’d make sure I was ok and that I was not in need of anything. I feel very comfortable with the new law. Yuh have some persons, dem affi learn the hard way. Dem ago if and but towards it (sexually harassing another) and that’s a good thing because no rule, no regulation, no guideline never deh deh so dem coulda just freely do as dem please.

4. Kemar, taxi operator — It’s not good (Sexual Harassment Act). There is no way we can see Jamaica from we born and grow until now we always see man and woman a call to each other — man a call to woman and woman a call to man. So if we see a nice lady we ago compliment her so if she feel bad when we a compliment her, weh we ago do? From ever since the law stay so though. If yuh touch a woman without permission yuh can get charge fi dat and we nah no problem wid dat but if a word a mouth, weh wi fi do bout dat? If mi say ‘psst, baby yuh look nice inna yuh clothes. She ago charge me fi dat?’