22 File Sexual Harassment Complaints

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Twenty-two people, including two men, filed sexual harassment complaints with Jamaica’s Sexual Harassment Tribunal between July 2025 and the end of last year, according to the 2025 Economic and Social Survey Jamaica released by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).

By December 31, 2025, the tribunal had confirmed receipt of complaints from 20 women and two men. Roughly half came from private-sector employees, while 36 percent originated in the public sector and 14 percent came from educational institutions.

“Approximately 50.0 per cent of complaints were received from individuals within the private sector,” the PIOJ said, adding that public-sector workers and educational institutions accounted for the remainder.

Of the cases reviewed, 64 percent were closed during the period, 32 percent remained pending, and 4 percent were withdrawn, the report said.

The tribunal was established after Cabinet approved a 14-member body in February 2025 under the Sexual Harassment (Protection and Prevention) Act, 2021. It is responsible for hearing complaints and determining remedial and enforcement action where breaches are found.

“It marked a significant step in Jamaica’s efforts to combat sexual harassment, providing a dedicated mechanism for the timely and fair resolution of complaints, thereby fostering safer and more respectful working environments,” the PIOJ stated.

Beyond the tribunal’s casework, the government has moved to raise awareness of the law. Between April 2025 and January 2026, the Sexual Harassment Investigation Unit held 133 sensitization sessions reaching 6,136 people across 420 organizations, including 250 staff members from government ministries, departments and agencies and 170 from private-sector organizations.

The PIOJ also reported that 69 organizations received support to draft or review workplace sexual harassment policies in line with the legislation, and 77 such policies were reviewed during the period.