KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - The introduction of a sexual harassment statute could lead to the workplace becoming a dull and rigid environment.

"Employees would be extremely wary and cautious to the extent that cracking jokes or making simple conversation would be a thing of the past," said Labour Department director-general Datuk Ismail Abdul Rahim.

"Disharmony would breed in the workplace as colleagues would wonder whether an innocuous comment or greeting could be wrongly interpreted as a form of sexual harassment."

Ismail was speaking at the launch of a seminar on "Sexual Harassment in the Workplace" organised in conjunction with Sexual Harassment Week that begins tomorrow.

He said casual banter was crucial to create a lively environment in the workplace.

The Human Resources Ministry's approach to the problem was sufficient, he said.

In 1999, the ministry introduced the voluntary Code of Practice on the Prevention and Eradication of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace. However, as of end of last year, only 1,330 companies had adopted it.

A total of 51 employers in the peninsula had introduced internal mechanisms to combat sexual harassment.

The code is a guide for employers, employees and other parties to ensure adequate procedures are available to deal with sexual harassment.