Consumer goods giant Unilever has introduced two policies against sexual harassment and abuses as part of its effort to ensure wellbeing and equality of its employees.

The two policies— Prevention on Sexual Harassment and Support Survivors of Abuse— uphold an inclusive ecosystem to protect all employees from any form of harassment or bullying, whether individual or collective and whether motivated by gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, or role, Unilever Bangladesh said in a statement.

According to global estimates published in June 2020 by UN Women, around 243 million women and girls have been subjected to sexual or physical violence by an intimate partner in the past 12 months.

"Unilever Bangladesh is committed to ensure a safe and secured workplace for all its employees," said Kedar Lele, chairman and managing director of Unilever Bangladesh.

"The principle of 'Respect, Dignity & Fair Treatment' is enshrined under the 'Code of Business Principles' of the company and UBL is committed to provide an environment that promotes respect for human rights, equal opportunity and free from all kinds of harassment, including sexual harassment," he said.

He said in order to be future-fit, Unilever Bangladesh has adapted these policies as an extra step to ensure overall employee wellbeing at work.

With a higher representation of female managers than ever before, Unilever's workforce is closing the gender gap with 50 per cent women managers globally from 38 per cent in 2010.

Unilever Bangladesh is committed to support all employees who have experienced and or may experience domestic violence by assuring safe environment that prioritises the wellbeing of the employees, the statement added.

"With the policy that supports survivors of abuse, Unilever Bangladesh aims to be a haven to its employees who have been victims of physical and or emotional domestic mistreatments," said the manufacturer of brands Lux, Lifebuoy, Surf, Closeup, Sunsilk, Ponds, Vaseline, Dove, Taaza and Pureit.