The scale of workplace violence in West Africa comes against a backdrop where the majority of existing studies focus on domestic violence. In 2019, ILO Convention No. 190 was adopted to provide a framework for eliminating violence and harassment in the workplace. The work carried out shows that many workers are exposed to various forms of harassment, exacerbated by gender dynamics, power hierarchies, and even cultural practices. In light of this finding, the study endeavours to fill the gap in quantitative data concerning violence and harassment in the workplace.
This report focuses on violence and harassment at work in West Africa, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Burkina Faso. This phenomenon, although often ignored, has serious repercussions on workers’ physical and mental health, and leads to productivity losses. The main objective of this study on “Labour market challenges in West Africa: What are the impacts of violence and harassment?”, commissioned by the International Labour Organization (ILO), is to quantify and understand the extent of work-related violence and harassment in order to support social dialogue and the development of policies to prevent it. This study highlights the high prevalence of psychological, physical and sexual violence and harassment in the workplace, and the considerable socio-economic impact this has.
The study is based on a mixed (quantitative and qualitative) approach, with standard questionnaires adapted to the three countries studied. It targets men and women aged 18 and over, in employment or with previous work experience. Stratified sampling (urban and rural) was carried out to reach a total of 6022 households and 5624 individuals in the three countries (i.e. a coverage rate of 87.17% and 81.41% respectively). The individual “Worker Well-being and Safety” questionnaire developed by the ILO was used to identify the three forms of work-related violence and harassment (psychological, physical and sexual) and their impact on workers’ health and well-being. Strict ethical and security considerations were applied to ensure the confidentiality of participants, and their informed consent.
Work-related violence and harassment affect a significant proportion of workers in West Africa, with variations from country to country. The study reveals that 65% of workers in Senegal, 58% in Côte d’Ivoire, and 42% in Burkina Faso have experienced some form of work-related violence at least once in their lives. Violence and harassment are more frequent in urban than in rural areas, and psychological harassment is the most widespread type of violence and harassment in all three countries. Over the past 12 months, just over 35% of workers in all three countries have experienced violence at work.
Victims of psychological violence are often men working in the commercial or administrative sectors, while victims of sexual harassment are mainly young women (aged between 18 and 34), and less educated. The perpetrators of psychological and physical violence are mostly customers, followed by colleagues and superiors, often male.
Most acts of violence take place in the workplace, sometimes exacerbated by professional pressure or power relationships. Sexual harassment, in particular, tends to manifest itself via communication tools such as the telephone or e-mail, enabling the perpetrators to act at a distance. Psychological violence and harassment are also common in interactions with difficult customers or patients.
The consequences of workplace violence are significant for the physical and mental health of victims. Stress, depression and anxiety are common effects, often compounded by a lack of support. Absenteeism, loss of motivation and reduced productivity are also notable, particularly in rural areas, where the repercussions of violence are more severe.
The study shows that around 40% of cases of workplace violence go unreported. The majority of victims are reluctant to report such acts, often for fear of reprisals, out of shame, or due to the perception that such incidents are not serious enough to warrant a complaint. When they are reported, cases of violence are mostly reported informally to those close to the victims (family, colleagues), rather than to official support structures. However, those who have accessed these services say they are generally satisfied with the help they receive.
The results of the qualitative study in Côte d’Ivoire corroborate this finding. Of the five cases presented, only one victim reported the situation to a formal institution, but without obtaining any real follow-up from those in charge. Otherwise, the other victims selected chose to remain silent to preserve their jobs and wait for better opportunities to leave the working environment that exposed them to violence and harassment.
The survey encountered methodological challenges, notably linked to the sensitivity of the subject and to data collection in diverse contexts. Lessons learned include the importance of ethical training for interviewers, and the need to improve data collection methods to better reflect local realities. Among the recommendations, the report highlights the urgent need to raise awareness among employers and employees of the risks of workplace violence, to promote zero-tolerance policies, and to extend support services, especially in rural areas.
n conclusion, the study shows that violence and harassment at work are widespread in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Burkina Faso, affecting urban areas to a greater extent. Psychological and physical violence and harassment at work mainly affect men, while young, poorly educated women are the main victims of sexual harassment, revealing gender and power dynamics. The perpetrators are mainly men, often customers.
The majority of workplace violence and harassment takes place in the workplace, although sexual harassment is often perpetrated via technological tools. A large proportion of incidents go unreported, with victims turning to informal support for fear of stigmatization or perceiving such acts as harmless. Such violence and harassment have serious repercussions on the mental and physical health of victims, especially in rural areas, underlining the importance of targeted interventions and context-specific support services.
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