After harassment at RTS and RSI: Swiss government expects swift action
Following allegations of harassment at the French- and Italian-language radio stations, the federal government expects those in charge to swiftly implement the planned measures. Only in this way can the company once again fulfill the role of a role model that is expected of it.
Specifically, the federal government sees those responsible at the French-speaking Swiss radio and television station RTS, the Italian-speaking station RSI and the Swiss radio and television company SRG as the parent company. This was communicated by the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications Uvek on Friday to the news agency Keystone-SDA on request.
The Uvek took note of the measures taken by the SRG Board of Directors to improve the protection of employees' personal integrity. The federal authority also took note of the recommendations regarding harassment formulated by a collective of lawyers and the SSM media union to the RTS management.
The department of Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga pointed out that it had no formal supervisory authority in the matter. The SRG was independent and thus solely responsible for regulating questions of personnel law. The independence enshrined in the constitution and the law was indispensable for reasons of state and media policy and had been expressly laid down by the legislature.
Sommaruga had already condemned "every form of discrimination and harassment" last year after harassment cases came to light. She signaled to SRG's top management that a change in corporate culture must take place.
On Thursday, a collective of lawyers commissioned by RTS had presented a report with 220 witnesses, according to which there had been many violations of personality at the broadcaster over the past twenty years. The SRG Board of Directors approved a catalog of measures to improve the operating culture. Implementation was to begin immediately. The SSM union described the catalog as insufficient. (SDA)
