THE government has been urged to legally require employers to protect their workers from sexual harassment.

Bolton South-East Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi has joined the Trades Union Congress is calling for ministers to act.

She said: "The TUC alongside many other organisations, is calling for a new, easily enforceable, preventive duty requiring employers to take all reasonable steps to protect workers from sexual harassment and victimisation.

" Under current laws there is no legal duty on employers to take proactive action to prevent harassment happening in their workplaces.

"I believe that the government must commit to taking action to tackle sexual harassment in the workplace. It is vital that strong protections are in place and that there is access to justice."

Ministers are expected to release a consultation paper on the issue shortly.