by IUF Asia/Pacific | May 3, 2024 | International Workers' Day, Women Unions & Power
On International Workers’ Day, the newly formed Gujarat Domestic Workers’ Union in India advocated for rights and protections for domestic workers. Gujarat Domestic Workers’ Union, a sister organization of Gujarat Agriculture Labour Union, also called for ratification and implementation of ILO Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No.189), as basis for labour standard for domestic workers.
Women members highlighted the need for a comprehensive legislation for domestic workers to regulate employment and working conditions such as wages, working hours, weekly holidays, social protection, occupational health and safety regulations, including right to a safe workplace free from harassment.
Domestic workers in India, mostly women, are engaged in informal and unregulated employment relationships and lack access to fundamental human rights and freedoms that all workers are entitled to. On may 1, they call for recognition of their work and be treated with respect and dignity that all human beings are entitled to.
Sister Paulomee Mistry addressing the meeting
Gujarat Domestic Workers’ Union, General Secretary, Sister Paulomee Mistry said: “Sisters, we’ve been laboring in households, often unseen and underappreciated. By uniting as a union, we assert our identity as workers entitled to rights and dignity. Our only plea is for our labor to be valued and compensated fairly.”
One of the urgent demands is for increase in pension for single women, with one member highlighting “Single women domestic workers are among the most vulnerable among us. Many are widowed or abandoned by their families. We demand that the state government raise this pension to a more enabling amount.”
In addition, members called for identity cards for domestic workers to access benefits under social protection policies including access to benefits under National Food Security Act and opportunities for skill development for women to access better skilled, higher paid jobs.
Domestic workers often work in isolation and union activities are an often the only opportunity for them to have a collective identity as workers. Union organized fun games such as tug of war, lemon race and musical chairs as a part of group activities for women workers.
by IUF Asia/Pacific | May 2, 2024 | Defending Democracy, Freedom of Association, International Workers' Day
On May 1, the IUF-affiliated Tourism Employees Association of the Maldives [TEAM] and Bodu Kanneli Masveringe Union [BKMU], the Yellowfin Tuna Fishers Union along with other sectoral unions in the Maldives held a rally to celebrate International Workers’ Day and raised demands for proper implementation of Industrial Relations and Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Following 11 years of union struggle in the Maldives, the Industrial Relations Act and Occupational Safety and Health Act officially took effect on January 2, 2024. As a result, the law now recognizes right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, health and safety rights and dignity of workers, a vital tool that all workers in the Maldives can collectively use to build union power to protect and advance their rights, improve wages and working conditions.
“Trade unions are essential for democracy; they advocate for rights to organize and strike as well as human & labour rights and freedoms. Decent work, job security and social stability are vital for the people of the Maldives” – TEAM General Secretary, Mauroof Zakir
Along with that trade unions called for fair pay, greater job security and creation of decent jobs and highlighted that workplace safety must be a priority in all industries. Employers and governments have an obligation towards workers to ensure their human right to safe work and environment.
On May 1, BKMU called for urgent action by the government to ensure that the Yellowfin Tuna Fishers receive fair price for their catch as agreed by the government. BKMU also called for greater government support in promoting sustainable development of the yellowfin tuna industry in ways that would provide greater benefits to fisheries workers and the people of the Maldives. BKMU members engage in pole and line fishing of yellowfin tuna and ensure sustainable catch.
by IUF Asia/Pacific | Mar 22, 2024 | International Workers' Day, Secure Jobs, violence against women, Women Unions & Power
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.
