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BHP, Rio Tinto face sexual harassment class actions in Australia

Global mining giants BHP Group and Rio Tinto are dealing with class actions alleging widespread and systemic sexual harassment at Australian mine websites, law office JGA Saddler stated on Wednesday.

JGA Saddler stated ladies who spoke up about the harassment were apparently victimized by the miners and that it expects countless female workers at the two companies to sign up with the class actions.

BHP issued a statement on Wednesday saying it apologised to anybody who has actually ever experienced any kind of harassment at BHP.

Sexual harassment has no location in our workplaces or indeed anywhere. We are devoted to supplying a safe and considerate office for everyone, said BHP.

A Rio Tinto spokesman stated the miner knew that a claim had actually been submitted in the Federal Court on Wednesday.

We deal with all such claims with the utmost severity. We do not endure any type of unwanted sexual advances or sex-based harassment. We take all issues about work environment security, culture and breaches of our values, or our code of conduct exceptionally seriously, the representative said.

In 2022, a Western Australia state federal government evaluation into abuse at mining websites found risky working conditions for ladies in the market, who needed to often deal with sexual harassment and sexual attack.

BHP and Rio Tinto have sent out female staff to these websites understanding there was a high threat of individual danger, and then punished them with demotion, dismissal or discrimination when they reported it, JGA Saddler attorney Joshua Aylward stated in a. declaration.

The class actions are being moneyed by litigation investor. Omni Bridgeway.

The lead applicant in the class action versus Rio Tinto,. who JGA Saddler said has requested to stay anonymous for fear. of reprisals, declared she suffered unwanted sexual advances on a weekly. basis while working as a security personnel on Rio Tinto's. Australian sites.

I was sent out unsolicited raunchy messages, videos. and photos from a coworker consisting of photos and videos of. him masturbating in his on-site space. Rio Tinto permitted him to. resign but after my complaint I was ignored for opportunities. to upskill, she stated in a statement detailing her accusations.

The lead BHP applicant, who asked for anonymity for the very same. reason, listed incidents of harassment in a declaration and stated. she was typically scared to report the abuse.

There have been times I have not reported an event for. worry of what may happen to my career, my task and my individual. security, she said.

The class actions were previously reported by the. nation's national broadcaster, the ABC.

(source: Reuters)