On International Women’s Day 2024, IUF Asia/Pacific conducted a workshop in Samut Prakarn, Thailand, under the theme “Secure Jobs and Better Wages for Women Workers” with twelve women union members, out of which ten were young members, from two unions: the Unilever Labour Union of Thailand and the Nisshin STC Labour Union of Thailand.
This cross-union collaboration fostered a vital exchange of ideas on addressing sexual harassment and violence against women in the workplace. The workshop’s core message centered on the critical link between secure employment with better wages and prevention of sexual harassment and violence against women. It effectively challenged prevailing misconceptions that attributes sexual harassment and violence against women to women’s ambition instead of the economic and social vulnerabilities faced by women in precarious employment arrangements, insecure jobs, unsafe work and poverty wages. Women workers face systematic discrimination in recruitment, employment, wages and benefits, facilities, training and promotion opportunities. Real-world examples from other unions further solidified this crucial connection.
Participants engaged in practical exercises, rehearsing how to engage more union members and collaboratively brainstorming solutions to present to their respective unions.
The workshop yielded significant results. Participants actively reflected on their own experiences with discrimination, sexual harassment and violence against women issues linked to insecure employment, openly shared their perspectives with participants from different backgrounds, and identified the need for more robust union mechanisms to address gender based violence.
This facilitated knowledge transfer and empowered participants to advocate for change within their organizations and through their organization in workplaces.
Nisshin STC Labour Union solidifying a commitment to integrate sexual harassment and violence against women into future union training initiatives scheduled for June 2024.
The Nisshin STC Labour Union demonstrated exceptional proactiveness. They requested that the acquired knowledge be incorporated into their upcoming capacity-building programs for youth members and committees.
This workshop transcended mere education by fostering solidarity among women union members, equipping them with valuable knowledge, and facilitating solution-oriented discussions. It empowered women to become agents of change, paving the way for a safer and more equitable workplace environment.