More than one in two workers in Senegal (65 per cent) and Côte d'Ivoire (58 per cent), and nearly half in Burkina Faso (43 per cent) report having experienced violence or harassment at work, according to a new International Labour Organization (ILO) report. The findings echo global evidence that violence and harassment in the world of work remains pervasive worldwide.
The report, Making the Invisible Visible: Understanding and Combating Violence and Harassment at Work in Three West African Countries, provides the most comprehensive evidence to date on the prevalence, forms and effects of violence and harassment in the world of work in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal. Its findings reveal a largely hidden phenomenon that undermines workers' dignity, health and productivity.
Psychological violence and harassment is the most widespread form and often occurs as part of a continuum of physical or sexual violence and harassment. While men are more likely to experience physical violence, women face a higher prevalence of sexual violence and harassment. Young and older workers are among the most affected groups.
Violence and harassment occurs primarily in the workplace but also extends beyond it, including in public transport, during interactions with the general public, and in digital or remote work environments. Third parties -such as clients, patients and unknown individuals-are among the most common perpetrators.
The effects of violence and harassment at work are profound, with up to half of victims reporting significant deterioration in mental health and up to one third reporting physical harm, linked to higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress. It also affects confidence, motivation and job satisfaction, while increasing absenteeism and reducing productivity, particularly among women and young workers.
Despite the scale of the problem, only 60 per cent of victims report such incidents, with women more likely than men to come forward, in line with global evidence of underreporting. Most victims confide in family members, friends or colleagues, while formal mechanisms remain rarely used due to perceptions that incidents are "not serious enough", fear of stigma or reprisals, and limited trust in reporting procedures.
"Violence and harassment in the world of work has long remained invisible, underreported and underestimated, yet its effects are profound." said Chidi King, Branch Chief, Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Branch, ILO. "This research from three countries in West Africa makes visible a reality that too many workers around the world have endured in silence. It also provides the evidence needed to strengthen prevention, protection and redress, and to accelerate action towards the ratification and effective implementation ILO Convention No. 190."
Although legal and institutional mechanisms exist in all three countries, the research finds they are often fragmented, poorly known and difficult to access-particularly for vulnerable workers. Underreporting, reliance on informal remedies, fear of reprisals and limited institutional capacity continue to hinder effective prevention, protection and support.
The findings underscore the urgent need for an inclusive, integrated and gender-responsive action to accelerate ratification and implementation of the ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment, 2019 (No. 190) while strengthening prevention, protection and redress mechanisms. Convention 190, together with Recommendation No. 206 provide the first international common framework to prevent, remedy and eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work, including gender-based violence and harassment. It recognises the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, and sets out the obligation to respect, promote and realise this right.
By making the invisible visible, the report puts forward 12 actionable recommendations across three strategic pillars to guide governments, employers and workers in preventing and eliminating violence and harassment at work in line with ILO Convention No. 190.
Making the Invisible Visible: Understanding and Combating Violence and Harassment at Work in Three West African Countries consolidates findings from four multidisciplinary research studies conducted under the France-ILO project Combating Violence and Harassment in the World of Work & Equal Pay and Career Opportunities for Men and Women.
