3 of 4 ministries say there was at least one sexual harassment report from beginning of legislature

Three ministers out of four ministries that responded to a particular Parliamentary Question said that there has been at least one sexual harassment report within their ministry since the beginning of the legislature.

The ministers were responding to a question posed by Nationalist Party MP Darren Carabott regarding the number of sexual harassment reports within their Ministry from 2014 to the present day. Carabott also asked for the outcome of each report.

Social Accommodation Minister Roderick Galdes said that there have been no reports of sexual harassment within the Ministry for Social and Affordable Accommodation since the beginning of the legislature.

Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg said that there has been one related case within the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade or the entities that fall under it. He said that the Ministry had appointed a Board of Investigation to investigate the report, and that no evidence was found following the necessary investigations that could confirm the report.

Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo said that since the beginning of the legislature, there have been a number of relevant cases within the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Animal Rights.

Refalo said that there was a report of sexual harassment which the Ministry could take no steps on as the case was sub-judice. He continued that there was another separate case where employment was terminated during a period of probation and that there were two cases where there was a suspension from employment and a warning of permanent dismissal with another report. He added that the Ministry also issued a warning to an employee on an isolated case of "a message with an inappropriate word that could be misunderstood".

Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said that since the start of the legislature, there has been one formal report of sexual harassment at the workplace within the Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise, and Strategic Projects.

Schembri said that the case was investigated by a Board of Inquiry as required by the procedures concerned. He continued that the Board concluded that "while the behaviour of the accused towards the alleged victim did not constitute 'Sexual Harassment', there are clear indications that such behaviour of the accused should be considered 'Inappropriate Behaviour' during the performance of his duties".

He said that since the accused is a civil servant, the outcome of the Board was forwarded to the Permanent Secretary, and a written warning was subsequently issued.

Schembri added that in another circumstance, although there was no report, an investigation process was still triggered since there was an allegation. He concluded that the investigation found nothing.