The Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos Law) significantly expands employer liabilities regarding gender-based sexual harassment within physical work sites, online communication channels, and off-site corporate events.

Every Philippine Employer Must Legally Implement:

  1. A Clear Written Policy: An explicit anti-sexual harassment policy integrated directly into the employee handbook.
  2. A Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI): A dedicated internal panel containing representatives from both management and rank-and-file employees to handle complaints.
  3. Annual Awareness Training: Mandatory education sessions for all personnel to prevent discriminatory behavior.
The Penalty Risk: Failure to set up an active CODI or respond properly to a harassment complaint exposes the business entity to direct administrative fines and potential criminal liability for corporate officers.