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20 July, 2007July 2007
Contents
1. Indonesia – ICEM A/P Women’s Committee Meets
2. South Africa – African Regional Women’s Conference Meets in Johannesburg
3. Egypt – Egypt Bans Female Circumcision
4. Finland – The Gender Pay Gap Has Narrowed in Industry
5. SEWA in India Pursues Solar Alternatives
6. Kuwait – Women Are Not Allowed to Work at Night
7. Sierra Leone – Domestic Violence Is Outlawed
8. Thailand – New Anti-Rape Law Passed
9. Uganda – Law Curbs Effects of Polygamy
10. Uruguay – National Equal Opportunities Plan Is Launched
11. Resources
1. Indonesia – ICEM A/P Women’s Committee Meets
The ICEM’s Asia-Pacific Women’s Committee met on 17 June in Jakarta, Indonesia, with the generous support of ICEM-JAF. ICEM welcomed three new affiliates from Indonesia, FARKES, KEP and KSBSI, and the many women that they organise. Most of the women at the meeting were from unions that organise the pharmaceuticals industries, reinforcing the trend that we have observed in the past.
The Japanese delegation from UI Zensen, Karoken, Denryokusoren, Osaka Gas, and ICEM-JAF made a presentation on work-life balance. The Tokyo Electric Power Company, the company that generates 30% of electric power in Japan, set up diversity programme in 2006 in order to make the most of the diverse human resources in the company. The aim was to improve the working conditions and working environment in collaboration with management. on Gender Issues, ageing issues, handicapped issues, which should not keep people from working. This programme has meant that more women are retained.
Women are entitled to six weeks before and eight weeks after childbirth at 100% pay. Childcare leave is possible, until the child turns 3. Pregnant women can have reduction of work time or workload, if they produce a doctor’s certificate.
More and more women are technicians and engineers, which involves work on top of power lines; working in radiation areas; or work underground, as well as supervising night work. With more women in these jobs, their needs are do get listened to. Currently, companies are cutting the workforce to cut costs, which often leads to longer work time for the workers who remain. Working long hours is not only a problem for work-life balance but also for heart disease and depression. Reducing working time is one major demand.
In the Meiji Seika food and pharmaceuticals company, men also get full salary when they take childcare leave. Whatever is not paid by the government, is paid by the company. Men are also protected, so that both partners may have work-life balance. Not everyone is aware, however, of exactly what is provided. A lunchtime working group meets to advise those who may want to take advantage of the system.
The three problem areas presented were getting agreement from the boss, getting back to work after leave, and getting agreement from colleagues. A guidebook has been published and distributed. Management organized a seminar for managers to acquaint them with the system, and then a joint committee was created.
Karoken has produced case studies on maternity protection. Takeda Pharmaceuticals has four nursing rooms in four large Takeda sites. These are used for those women who are unable to take childcare leave because of their own work.
Women must be included in committees involving working conditions, to help determine their own standards. There is a system for reducing work time (it can be reduced by one hour until the child starts primary school) but the salary is cut proportionately. Morning sickness leave is possible with 100% wage guarantee.
Currently Takeda is recruiting more women. Flexibility in the system will likely lead to more men taking advantage of leave more often.
Osaka Gas has set up a joint union-management committee on work-life balance made up of women and men. A booklet has been published to support work-life balance, especially regarding childcare. There is a support system for women returning from maternity leave.
There must be contact between the worker and the employer during the leave, and women can be out on leave for three years. The father is also entitled to certain things. People on leave can have a PC loaned to them by the company with pertinent information so that they can work at home.
In Japan, the Law to Support the Next Generation was passed to combat the ageing society and to encourage childbirth. The Welfare Labour Ministry provides certifications for action programmes, which cover children from the age of three until the start of primary school. The reduction of workload is also included. Working hours can be reduced until the child reaches third grade. The certification is granted to companies which reduce overtime, promote workers’ ability to take leave, and generally improve working conditions.
In Japan, there is the problem in the reduction of permanent women’s jobs. Young, male workers are also losing permanent jobs. Maternity issues – pregnancy, child delivery and childcare – are an obstacle to women working full time. If the company has a union, mothers can more easily continue to work after childbirth; small companies have a problem. Only 30% of mothers continue to work after childbirth in Japan.
In conclusion, it was reaffirmed that maternity is a social function and must be seen as such. Maternity leave must be paid by social security. Women must get involved in politics and get politicians to improve laws, starting with ratifying ILO Convention 183 on Maternity Protection.
Preparations continued for the Women’s World Conference scheduled for 17-18 November 2007 in Bangkok, just prior to the ICEM Congress. The theme of the conference is Women – Work – 21st century. Burmese refugees and the Deputy Executive Director of the Thailand Government Pharmaceuticals Organisation (GPO) will speak to the conference. The first block will have peace as the theme and will contemplate Colombia, Nepal, Palestine, Iraq and Burma. Otherwise the conference will concern itself with employment issues, proposals for Congress and elections. Please Register for the Conference at your earliest convenience.
The A/P women’s committee proposed some amendments to the Congress motions on HIV/AIDS, contract and agency labour, and social dialogue. The Thai group proposed promoting a campaign on compulsory licensing. The reason is that housewives are the main focus of new HIV infections due to contamination from their husbands. But since they have less income than their husbands, they are less able to afford expensive drugs. Migrant workers, many of whom are women, also need more protection against HIV/AIDS.
A Congress motion on women should indicate that ICEM strives for gender balance in all bodies.
The committee elected, and the regional conference endorsed, the election of a woman from Thailand and a substitute from Japan to join the ICEM Executive Committee after the November 2007 Congress.
2. South Africa – African Regional Women’s Conference Meets in Johannesburg
The ICEM African Regional Women’s Conference was held on 2 July in Johannesburg to prepare women’s positions for the regional conference to be held the next day in Botswana, which followed by a few days. ICEM received sponsorship from a number of companies for the conference.
In 2003, the women’s conference set the main task of establishing the ICEM African women’s committee. The goal was met. From now on, it will be a question of organizing activities to make real progress for African women in ICEM.
ICEM has been running the shop steward development programme for some years now in Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. This programme has a women’s component. The women’s programme creates awareness of women’s issues to make sure that leadership is developed. Since women are not always in the leadership structure, their issues are not always addressed. Women’s health issues are one area that is often neglected.
Employers tendency is to think of workers as male. Pregnant women have particular issues, but all women’s issues are also very diverse than just maternity issues; health issues also encompass menstruation and menopause. Unions should negotiate for rest areas at work so that women can rest on the job instead of staying home. Employers expect women to adapt to the workplace instead of the other way around.
Women in mining is a major topic in Africa. Some legislation denies women the right to work underground, but mining is a well-paid job. Still women need protections. Women need to learn to challenge things, not only at the workplace but at all levels. Women must be able to participate actively. They should not take positions at all costs if they are not prepared; they have to be able to deliver. Ultimately women must come into the mainstream to make the union strong. Role models are important, since those starting out should be able to look up to women who do have experience.
ICEM affiliate National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) presented a resolution on the gender dynamics in HIV/AIDS. Women need to be empowered to take control in terms of condom use. Women in marriage negotiate on condoms without success. We must explore how best women can take control.
The meeting decided to focus on the following topics in the coming years: HIV/AIDS and women workers; health and safety; leadership skills; expansion of projects to other countries; accountability; and reporting/information sharing. The next step will be for the women’s committee to draft a charter for working women in Africa. This work will entail examining national legislations, constitutions, terms and conditions at work, collective agreements and ILO conventions.
The conference elected Baru Gaithoboge from the Botswana Diamond Sorters and Valuators’ Union to chair the women’s committee, and Oluchi Okorie from NUPENG, Nigeria, as vice-chair. They will be the ICEM Executive Committee member and substitute, respectively.
3. Egypt – Egypt Bans Female Circumcision
In June, a ban on female circumcision was announced to outlaw the practice, also known as genital mutilation, in Egypt, a country where some 90% of Egyptian women are subjected to the practice. The decree says no professionals will be allowed to perform this operation any more, and violators will be punished.
Female circumcision is a flagrant example of physical and psychological violence against girl children. Muslim and Christian authorities have stated that the practice has no basis either in the Koran or the Koran. Circumcision is seen by conservatives as a way to protect women’s chastity. The practice is still common in many African countries.
4. Finland – The Gender Pay Gap Has Narrowed in Industry
In the fourth quarter of 2006, the average wages of women in Finnish industry were 85% than those of men. In the second quarter 2002, the corresponding figure was 80%.
5. SEWA in India Pursues Solar Alternatives
The SEWA Bank and the SEWA Academy, part of the Self-Employed Women’s Association in India, promoted an energy park for women to make the most of solar energy and biogas. Solar power and bio gas are of tremendous use to the self-employed. Women street vendors can use solar powered lamps to continue selling into the night and boost their revenues. Midwives can use specially designed lamps to deliver in homes without electricity. Solar lamps in homes can help children study and achieve better in school. Garment workers use solar energy to run sewing machines. Women have installed smokeless stoves. In addition to helping the women earn better livelihoods, there is no pollution with solar energy. SEWA hopes women will adopt solar energy on a large scale.
6. Kuwait – Women Are Not Allowed to Work at Night
Gulf News reported that the Kuwaiti Parliament has banned women from working at night. The new law prohibits women from working between 8 pm and 7 am outside the medical profession. Nor are women allowed to work in jobs that “break public morals and in all-men service places at any time.”
7. Sierra Leone – Domestic Violence Is Outlawed
The parliament in Sierra Leone passed a law to ban all domestic violence, and to guarantee women’s inheritance rights and the right to register customary marriages. The law greatly improves women’s status, especially in rural areas.
The police may now either mediate disputes or support women who decide to take action. The registration of customary marriages enables women to own property, and the inheritance law guarantees them access to the property they are entitled to when their husbands die, without interference from extended families.
Women must be aware of their rights, and the rights must be enforced.
8. Thailand – New Anti-Rape Law Passed
Thailand’s National Assembly passed a new law at the end of June which criminalizes marital rape. The new law carries a monetary penalty, and also possible imprisonment of up to 20 years. The definition of “victim” has also been expanded so that men can also file charges against women or other men.
Gay rights activists applaud the law because they now see protection for gays, lesbians and cross-dressers who are often targeted violently. Nevertheless it will take time for rape victims to speak out freely. The justice system is still a barrier, and people will still be afraid for a long time of continued violence at the hands of their aggressors.
9. Uganda – Law Curbs Effects of Polygamy
A new law in Uganda has decriminalized adultery for women and men. In Uganda, polygamy for men is legal in “customary” marriages, and thus men’s adultery is tolerated. Women’s adultery is stigmatized.
The new law has implications for divorce, which is heavily stigmatized. Divorces should be easier to obtain. Now women will be able to divorce husbands who bring the HIV/AIDS virus home. The law also contains provisions regarding inheritance and rights to a widow’s children. Women rights are slowly gaining protections in the law.
10. Uruguay – National Equal Opportunities Plan Is Launched
In June, the government presented the plan to end gender discrimination in Uruguay where inequality persists between men and women in access to power and work.
The plan aims to reverse inequality and combat discrimination by facilitating women’s access to the labour market, reviewing legislation to eliminate discrimination, providing equal access to housing and the social security system. Research into unpaid work will be promoted – women spend 67% of their time on unpaid work and 33% on paid work, while with men it is just the opposite.
The Vice-President of Uruguay admitted that in macho societies, women are still constrained in roles that have no place in today’s world.
11. Resources:
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions focuses on equal opportunities in the April issue of FOCUS available at:
http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0731.htm
The British TUC reports on work-life balance news at http://www.tuc.org.uk/work_life/tuc-13468-f0.cfm
The second issue of the newsletter of the International Women and Mining Network is available at http://www.tuc.org.uk/work_life/tuc-13468-f0.cfm e at
The NEWSLETTER of the European Parliament Committee on women's rights and gender equality is available at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/comparl/femm/news/2007/20070620_newsletter_en.pdf
BRIDGE supports gender advocacy and mainstreaming effort by bridging the gaps between theory, policy and practice with accessible and diverse gender information in print and online. See http://www.bridge.ids.ac.uk
Information on Equality in Spanish at AmecoPress http://www.amecopress.net