A few days ago, the North Tyrrhenian Port Network Authority adopted its Strategic Anti-Violence Plan for three reasons: to prevent discriminatory and violent behaviour at the Authority, to respond effectively to staff needs and requests, and to protect victims.
“We are the first Port Network Authority to adopt such a plan,” said Managing Director Matteo Paroli, who signed the approval provision. “Our intention”, he added, “is to become the leading network authority, at national level, for projects of this nature as well as to represent a benchmark in our port and maritime industry for tangible policies to prevent and combat violence/discrimination at work.”
The document prescribes certain rules of conduct for all personnel with the ultimate aim of promoting an in-house culture of respect, safety and inclusion.
Various preventive measures are set out in the Plan. They include, above all, setting up a digital platform to allow acts of violence in the workplace to be reported anonymously and providing a confidential service offering psychological support and counselling to victims of violence or harassment, referring them, if necessary, to the appropriate institutions or dedicated facilities.
As well as foreseeing specific training courses and promoting regular awareness-raising campaigns to improve people’s understanding of violence-related issues, the PNA intends to add specific provisions to its Employees’ Code of Conduct expressly prohibiting disrespectful, violent or harassing behaviour, envisaging, in the event of violations, disciplinary sanctions proportionate to the level of seriousness of the misconduct and the extent of the harm, including moral damage, it caused.
The Authority will also endeavor to individuate possible useful tools such as greater flexibility in working hours, possible temporary transfers, extension of paid leave to be applied temporarily to employees who are victims of violence or harassment.
In addition, it will promote coordination and cooperation initiatives with anti-violence centres, associations offering assistance and local authorities to offer victims comprehensive support, including legal aid.
The Comitato Unico di Garanzia or C.U.G (Joint Committee for Equal Opportunity), which was set up last year, will be involved in managing and supervising complaints. It will draw up an annual report on how the measures set out in the Plan have been applied. The Plan has been christened ‘P.O.R.T.O.’ Each letter refers to the precise commitments the Authority has made: Preventing all forms of discrimination, Organizing the administration in such a way that the regulations on the subject are respected, Responding to staff needs, Taking care of staff and victims, Orienting staff towards actions against violence.
Port Network Authority President, Luciano Guerrieri, expressed his satisfaction: “I firmly believe that promoting a healthy, safe, inclusive, respectful working environment is the cornerstone of any business,” he said, convinced that the provisions of the Plan “will contribute to improving the conditions and well-being of all our staff, ensuring greater performance and effectiveness in carrying out their work.”
All the members of the CUG worked actively on the drafting and preparation of the P.O.R.T.O. Plan. Mr. Paroli expressed his appreciation for their work: “I would particularly like to thank the President of the CUG, Antonella Querci, as well as our employees Silvia Fugi and Sibilla Giacomelli, and all the regular and substitute members of the Single Guarantee Committee for the impetus they have given to this initiative,’ he said.
Translation by Giles Foster