ILO Report Reveals Widespread Workplace Harassment in West Africa

The study found that workplace violence has significant psychological and physical impacts on victims.

A new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) has revealed alarming levels of violence and harassment in workplaces across Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, with more than half of workers in some countries reporting abuse.

According to the report, 65% of workers in Senegal and 58% in Côte d’Ivoire say they have experienced violence or harassment at work, while 43% of workers in Burkina Faso report similar incidents. The findings highlight a deeply rooted yet often hidden issue affecting workers’ safety, health, and productivity.

Psychological Abuse Most Common Form

The report, Making the Invisible Visible: Understanding and Combating Violence and Harassment at Work in Three West African Countries, provides the most detailed research to date on workplace violence in the region.

It shows that psychological violence and harassment—including intimidation, verbal abuse, and humiliation—is the most widespread form of workplace abuse. This type of violence frequently occurs alongside physical or sexual harassment, forming a continuum of abuse.

The study also found clear gender differences in the nature of harassment:

• Men are more likely to experience physical violence

• Women face higher levels of sexual harassment and gender-based abuse

Young workers and older employees were identified as particularly vulnerable groups.

Abuse Extends Beyond the Workplace

While most incidents occur within workplaces, the research found that violence and harassment often extend into other work-related environments, including:

• Public transportation used for commuting

• Interactions with customers or members of the public

• Digital or remote work environments

The report also highlights the role of third-party perpetrators, such as clients, patients, and unknown individuals, who are frequently responsible for workplace harassment.

Serious Mental and Physical Health Consequences

The study found that workplace violence has significant psychological and physical impacts on victims.

Up to half of affected workers reported serious deterioration in mental health, including increased levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Meanwhile, around one-third reported physical harm linked to violent incidents.

Beyond health impacts, the report notes wider workplace consequences, including:

• Reduced motivation and job satisfaction

• Lower confidence among employees

• Higher absenteeism

• Reduced productivity, particularly among women and younger workers

Underreporting Remains a Major Barrier

Despite the high prevalence of abuse, reporting rates remain low.

Only around 60% of victims report incidents, with many workers reluctant to use formal complaint channels. Women were more likely than men to report harassment, though underreporting remains widespread across all groups.

Most victims choose to confide in family members, friends, or colleagues, rather than official workplace or legal reporting systems.

Common reasons for not reporting incidents include:

• Belief that the incident was “not serious enough”

• Fear of stigma or retaliation

• Lack of trust in workplace reporting procedures

Weak Systems Limit Protection for Workers

Although legal and institutional frameworks exist in all three countries, the report found that protections are often fragmented, poorly understood, and difficult to access, particularly for vulnerable workers in informal sectors.

Limited institutional capacity and weak enforcement mechanisms also contribute to gaps in prevention and response.

“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 of the Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Branch at the ILO.

“This research from three countries in West Africa makes visible a reality that too many workers around the world have endured in silence.”

Global Framework for Prevention

The report urges governments, employers, and workers’ organizations to accelerate ratification and implementation of the ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment, 2019 (Convention No. 190).

Convention 190 provides the first international legal framework to prevent and eliminate violence and harassment in the workplace, including gender-based abuse. It recognizes the right of every worker to a safe and respectful work environment and outlines responsibilities for governments and employers.

12 Recommendations to Combat Workplace Violence

To address the crisis, the report proposes 12 actionable recommendations across three strategic areas:

1. Strengthening legal and policy frameworks

2. Improving prevention and reporting systems

3. Enhancing protection, support, and remedies for victims

The research forms part of the France–ILO project “Combating Violence and Harassment in the World of Work & Equal Pay and Career Opportunities for Men and Women.”

ILO officials say the findings highlight the urgent need for coordinated action to ensure workplaces across the region become safe, inclusive, and free from violence and harassment.