National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop on Tuesday 3rd March officially launched the Trade Union Congress Workshop on the Elimination of Violence in the Workplace, a landmark initiative supporting the city’s broader efforts to end Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Papua New Guinea.
The launch coincides with International Women’s Day 2026, highlighting the importance of creating safe and inclusive work environments for all, particularly women and young workers.
The workshop, organized in collaboration with the Papua New Guinea Trade Union Congress and other key stakeholders, aims to equip workers, employers and community leaders with the tools and knowledge to prevent workplace violence, hold perpetrators accountable and raise awareness about the risks faced by vulnerable groups.
It emphasizes the need for proactive measures, advocacy programs and strong legal frameworks to protect workers from harassment, exploitation, and abuse.
Governor Parkop commended PNGTUC for its leadership in championing this initiative, noting that while many workplaces already have anti-harassment policies, these protections are often limited to individual organizations.
He stressed the need to expand these policies across all sectors, creating a national standard to ensure zero tolerance for workplace violence and harassment.
“We already have workplace policies that address harassment, but they are often confined to specific organizations.
It’s time to expand these protections across all sectors and make them a national standard,” Governor Parkop said.
He also highlighted the role of leadership at home in preventing GBV.
“Leadership starts in the home. If a person is found to be abusive—whether it’s a man towards a woman or vice versa—there must be consequences. Changing our national mindset starts with how we address violence in our own homes,” he added.
The workshop provides a platform for workers, employers, and government officials to come together to promote dignity, respect, and equality in the workplace.
Participants will engage in sessions covering preventive measures, reporting mechanisms, legal protections and advocacy strategies to create workplaces free from violence and harassment.
Governor Parkop concluded by urging all participants to take the lessons learned from the workshop back to their organizations and communities, reinforcing a culture of safety, respect and accountability.
“This is more than a workshop; it is a movement to ensure that every worker can perform their duties without fear and that our workplaces reflect the values of fairness and equality that our nation upholds,” he said.
The TUC workshop marks a significant step forward in uniting workers, employers and government leaders to create safer workplaces, strengthen policies and empower individuals to stand against violence in all its forms, contributing to a more just and equitable Papua New Guinea.
