Gender Based Violence at Workplace: Are Women Safe?

Background: Majority of women are not safe in their workplace as they are the victim of many types of gender based violence at workplace and they are more likely to experience violence in different forms such as physical, emotional, sexual etc. but due to social stigma, economic condition, illiteracy these are under reported. The purpose of the study was to identify magnitude, risk factors and response of women towards the common gender based violence. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study among 182 female workers was conducted in different food industries of Pokhara Industrial Estate in October-December 2013 using quantitative methods. Results: About fifty percent (49.5%) respondents had experienced GBV in their workplace where 47.3% faced emotional violence and 14.8% faced sexual violence but none of them experienced physical violence. The major perpetrators for emotional violence were seniors (86.0%) where as male coworkers (66.7%) for sexual violence. The risk of sexual violence was found 8.39 times more to those who experienced emotional violence. The risk of sexual violence was 3.67 times greater in below 20 years age than 20 years or above age groups. Conclusion: There is an immediate to develop a friendly working environment with strict rules and regulations. Awareness and training programs to empower female workers are also necessary to eliminate gender based violence at workplace.