Penang Keadilan and Parti Rakyat Malaysia today launched a public signature campaign to demand the state government to direct all companies to enforce the sexual harassment code to protect women workers.

Dubbed the 'Sunshine Programme', the campaign is to further demand that Penang leads the way on the issue and that it should establish a citizen protection programme to ensure that women and children are safe in their own homeland.

The code was drawn up by women non-governmental organisations to deal with cases of sexual harassment at the work place. But as it is not considered compulsory, the NGOs are now pushing for a law to be enacted soon by Parliament.

PRM vice-president Rohana Ariffin said the issue is about public safety and safe working environment for women, which has worsened as the country embraces globalisation and its challenges.