SHAH ALAM - The National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) is seeking justice for a female bank employee from a local bank in Bercham, Ipoh, who has experienced ongoing harassment and intimidation and was ultimately suspended on Aug 20 after reporting sexual harassment.
NUBE's Secretary-General J. Solomon said that the employee had been repeatedly harassed and bullied by her male superior since 2021.
Despite her numerous complaints, NUBE emphasised that no action was taken by the bank.
"Instead of addressing the matter with the union, the bank, in a desperate attempt to intimidate her, turned her into the target of an investigation.
"This intimidation is carried out to restrain the member from seeking union representation," Solomon said in a statement.
Unable to endure the harassment any longer, the victim reported the matter to the union and lodged a police report on Aug 16.
Shortly after, the bank sent her a letter instructing her to attend an investigative interview on Aug 20.
In response, the victim informed the bank that she had already filed a sexual harassment report on October 6, 2021, but no action had been taken.
She expressed her wish for her grievances to proceed with the union’s involvement and refused to bypass the grievance process by attending the investigative interview.
On August 20, the bank suspended the employee for refusing to attend the interview, citing "acts of insubordination and willful defiance of authorities."
She has since been barred from entering the premises and placed on half pay for two weeks.
"Despite repeated complaints to the bank superiors, no stern action was taken, and the victim's superior was only asked to stop his actions.
"Our union representative from Ipoh met with the parties involved and the bank management, advising that the superior be removed from the bank.
"However, no action was taken, and in a drastic turn of events, the bank is now punishing the victim while no action has been taken against the perpetrator," Solomon added.
The harassment reportedly began in May 2021, when the victim's superior sent her inappropriate messages and lewd pictures.
Despite her repeated complaints, the superior faced no serious repercussions, with the bank only asking him to stop his actions.
Solomon expressed concern over the lack of safe working conditions for women at the bank, urging Permodalan Nasional Berhad, the major stakeholder of the bank, to intervene and put an end to what he described as "union-busting actions."