HOSPITALITY workers will take to the streets of Belfast today in a bid to “lift the lid” on rampant sexual harassment and exploitation of young workers in hotels, bars and restaurants.

Members of the Unite union will hold street stalls and canvass workplaces after a recent survey by the union in Britain showed 90 per cent of those working in the industry had experienced sexual harassment.

Unite hospitality organiser Neil Moore said: “A worker who is on a zero-hours contract finds it hard to stand up for themselves to a boss who can decide – and often does – to punish them by withholding hours.”

He explained that when the union had distributed Know Your Rights booklets across Belfast nearly everyone they spoke to had a story to tell about harassment, with female workers facing “the most sinister element.” 

“Most workers we speak to, especially young workers, have experienced abuse,” Mr Moore said. “It’s run of the mill in the industry – in fact, I would say sexual harassment of workers is the dirty little secret of hospitality in Ulster.

“We hope by this survey to lift the lid on what’s going on in this sector.”