ICEM Women's Bulletin: September 2008 (No. 31)

1. Uzbekistan – The Union of Fuel and Energy Complex, Chemical and Geology Workers Holds International ICEM Conference

From 4-8 September, the Union of Fuel and Energy Complex, Chemical and Geology Workers, held a conference to gather together women from ICEM affiliates in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Uzbekistan. The theme of the conference was social protection as well as labour rights for women and young people. Presentations were given on topics such as decent work, gender equality as a component of decent work, maternity protection, equal pay, social security, Contract and Agency Labor, women and armed conflict, and discrimination.

A large number of men also attended the conference, indicating that they support the women’s work.

One initiative was described on how the host union has started to organise women working at home. Women homeworkers are now part of the collective agreement, and their rights are guaranteed. The countries present still have large numbers of women working in ICEM sectors. Women are often workplace convenors – in the Russian Oil & Gas Workers’ Union (ROGWU), 57% of workplace convenors are women. Women generally have to work closely with men, since most general managers are men. Nevertheless, men are apprehensive about women’s empowerment. In general, the awareness of gender equality has risen. Young people are paying more and more attention to gender equality issues. Gender equality should become part of all collective agreements. Not all industries have the same level of resources to provide benefits; the oil and gas industry offers the highest payments.

In Russia, the birth rate has been falling considerably, and the government is struggling to find measures to raise it. Cash incentives are paid out to families. But still the death rate is higher than the birth rate. In general, the question is how to achieve gender equality in practice.

Some interesting cases were presented including contests. Men are now starting to accept some issues as problems, such as domestic violence and sexual harassment. Labour migration has also become an issue for women; many women leave to go to work in Western Europe.

Young people have different needs which can also be met in collective agreements. Housing for example could be one provision. The need was expressed for youth forums to be organized.

In general, social dialogue was seen to be one way forward on the way to achieving gender equality.

2. Brazil – Maternity Leave Is Extended to Six Months

Brazil has extended maternity leave to six months, in principle, to benefit infant health. Companies will be granted tax relief in order to provide six months’ paid leave. Up to now, leave has been four months, and companies will be provided incentives to extend it two more months.

Since mothers will be able now to breastfeed their babies for two extra months, the costs for infant health will be reduced and therefore the expenses for the measure offset.

3. Chile – Measures Are Demanded To Combat the Killing of Women

In 2007, 62 women were murdered in Chile, and in 2008 so far, that number is 46. The Chilean Network against Domestic and Sexual Violence is therefore demanding that measures be taken to reduce the number of women killed.

Most of the women are killed by their partners or men they know. Persecution and sexual abuse, as well as the exploitation of power are generally the reasons for such violence. The network demands expanding women’s access to justice and increased means to protect them. Coherent and consistent policies must be introduced and resources must be provided to implement these new policies to protect women adequately.

The conditions must be created so that women gain the power over their own lives. In July 2008, the Network launched a campaign called, “Careful – Machismo Kills.” Memorials to those killed have been set up in different cities in the country.

4. Costa Rica – SITRAPEQUIA Organizes Panel on Maternity Leave

On 14 August, SITRAPEQUIA organized a panel at its training center, which was moderated by Elena Gutiérrez Montero. The panel was partially inspired by ICEM’s work. The panel discussed three pieces of draft legislation in Costa Rico that have been introduced to regulate maternity.

One of the drafts is geared toward reducing discrimination against women. Paid maternity leave is a question of human and labour rights. Non-compliance with legal obligations and the principles of solidarity, as well as the lack of a vision of maternity as a social function are violations of human and labor rights. Lately, women are concerned that what they struggled for years to achieve, is now being undermined. The meeting ended with a presentation from the ICEM Women’s Conference on the focus on parents’ rights.

5. FROM OUR READERS: Tove Møeller Pedersen, 3F Denmark,
Contributes to the Discussion on Sustainability

Empirical evidence from development work worldwide demonstrates that empowering women can yield enormous benefits for overall human welfare in poor countries. In most societies, women bear the primary responsibility for child care, household management, and environmental management. By empowering women through access to education, decision-making, and productive resources, countries can achieve enormous economic and social progress.

For example:

1.) Women account for two-thirds of the global population living under a dollar a day. Increased access to assets and resources can significantly increase household incomes. In African countries, female farmers are equally efficient as male farmers, but are less productive due to limited access to human capital and productive inputs, such as land and fertilizer. Equalizing this disparity could increase total agricultural outputs in Sub-Saharan Africa by 6-20%.

2.) There is a strong negative correlation between a mother’s schooling and child mortality, because female education translates to better nutrition and care for children. In 63 countries between 1975 and 1995, gains in women’s education made the single largest contribution to reducing malnutrition. Decreasing gender gaps in literacy also translates to lower HIV infection rates. Women currently account for roughly 70 percent of all HIV-infected 15-19 year-olds in Sub-Saharan Africa.

3.) Worldwide, women are vastly under-represented in both national and local assemblies. On average, women account for less than 15% of parliamentary seats, with only a marginal difference between developed and developing countries.

4.) In most low-income countries, girls are both less likely to attend school than boys, and more likely to drop out. This disparity helps explain why two-thirds of the world's 781 million illiterates are women.

5.) Promoting gender equality is one of eight Millennium Development Goals to be met by 2015. However, it has become apparent that empowering women has important spill-over effects for the other goals of reducing poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary school education, reducing child and maternal mortality, combating HIV/AIDS and other diseases, and ensuring environmental sustainability, thereby inciting the need for a more gender responsive approach to development policy.

Finally, I would strongly recommend that women’s representation at all levels in our own organization is made an important issue in this context as well.

5. European Union – More Work Is Necessary for Quality Jobs

A report on equality of women and men in the EU, the first to cover all 27 member states, was adopted by the European Parliament. It also stresses the need to combat violence against women in order to achieve gender equality.

The employment rate for women continues to rise – it is now 57.2%. But the rise has not been matched in terms of quality jobs. Sector-specific and job-specific segregation has not gone down and is actually increasing in some member-countries. The proportion of company directors is stagnating at 33%, and 23% of national MPs are women, with the percent of European MPs at 33%. More effort is also needed in connection with work-life balance.

The employment rate of women with young children has even gone down by an average of 13.6%. Moreover, three-quarters of part-time workers are women. The wage gap between men and women still remains wide.

MEPs promote the idea of compulsory wage audits, as well as concrete action plans to close the gap. Women’s role in decision making is also seen to be inadequate. MEPs call on the Commission, member-states, and political parties to take position action to improve the situation. A father’ role in families is seen to be crucial in improving work-life balance. Incentives are needed for fathers to take parental leave. Those workers who do take parental leave need to have their rights strengthened.

The European Women’s Lobby has launched a campaign to ensure that more women are elected to the European Parliament in 2009. That campaign can be found here.

6. Mauritius – Women-friendly Budget is Launched

Mauritius recently approved a national budget which is seen to be unique. Women and gender issues are at the centre of the budget’s concerns. This is interesting since money follows policy statements.

Although single motherhood is often considered to be a taboo, the budget provides for concrete measures for women’s economic independence and their ability to look after children. Activities are planned for women’s training and re-skilling – women have special needs for flexible working conditions and childcare.

Since women bear the brunt of looking after the family when relationships falter, it is hard for them to care for themselves and their children, and to ensure economic stability. The budget will help women help themselves by providing opportunities through skills. Financing will also be available to start businesses.

The solidarity program also provides funding for women in prison, as well as grants for HIV awareness campaigns. Budgets are available to reduce women’s unemployment, eradicate poverty, and assist victims of gender violence. The budgets are accompanied by programs and action plans with proper monitoring and evaluation. Thus national resources are being channelled to better the lives of women and men in the country.

7. Mexico – The Widows of the Pasta de Conchos Accident Demand Justice

In a press conference on 13 August 2008, the widows of the 63 mineworkers killed inside the Pasta de Conchos mine of Grupo México on 19 February 2006 announced that they would go down into the mine if the bodies of the miners are not recovered.

They demanded the recovery and proper burial of the bodies. Together with the Mexican metal and mineworkers’ union, SNTMMSRM, the widows demand fair compensation for themselves and other family members to the tune of 1.5 million pesos each, as well as a demand to provide housing for them, scholarships for their children, and social security.

They seek a full investigation and accountability of those responsible for the accident, which was due to the negligence on the employer, Grupo México. The women say they have been abandoned by the governor of the state who refuses to meet with them.

8. Pakistan – Home-based Women Workers Launch Union

Home-based women workers launched a union on 22 August to advocate for their rights more effectively. The union will strengthen women’s capacity for collective bargaining and to negotiate with middle men and investors. They will also be enabled to negotiate with government.

The World Bank estimates that over 10 million women work at home in Pakistan in garments, bangle-making, shoe-stitching, embroidery, carpet-weaving, and prawn shelling. among other trades. The work of these women has been unrecognised up to now. In the last three years, 11 cooperatives were established in Sindh and Punjab to build women’s capacity and to provide basic health facilities. The cooperatives made women aware of the need to set up a union so that they could work toward obtaining better wages and social protection. All home-based women workers can join the union.

9. South Africa – Southern African Development Community (SADC) Adopts Protocol on Gender and Development

The Heads of State of Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe adopted the protocol on gender and development on 18 August. The protocol provides for gender justice, and gives hope that it will make a difference in the lives of the region’s women.

Affirmative action clauses are included. The target is to reduce gender violence by half. At least half of all decision makers should be made up of women by 2015. Prevention, treatment, and support of those affected by HIV are supposed to be boosted, with special provisions made in the event of sexual assault.

Land ownership, trade and entrepreneurship, and equal access to state procurement are also priorities. The protocol represents a minimum set of standards that takes the region well beyond the 1997 SADC Declaration on Gender and Development. It was noted that none of the provisions could be achieved without peace and good governance, and therefore SADC calls for a speedy resolution to the crisis in Zimbabwe.

10. Spain – CCOO and UGT Call To Support Decent Work

The World Day for Decent Work, 7 October 2008, has been called by the International Trade Union Confederation and supported by a number of NGOs, as well as all the Global Union Federations. Awareness is supposed to be created on that day for decent work and the eradication of poverty.

The concept of decent work was introduced by the ILO in 1999 and promotes basic social protections and fundamental trade union rights. Every person should be entitled to a dignified life with basic needs covered.

Nevertheless, 80% of the world’s workers do not have social protections, and this situation is particularly serious among women. That is why strengthening and broadening social protection, pensions, unemployment benefits, maternity protection, and health services must be the priority for all. Men and women working in the informal economy must be afforded coverage. The weakest among us are suffering the most from the current crisis in financial markets, energy supply, and food prices. The lack of work and precarious employment means that the majority of people in the world are thrown into destitution. That is why the fight for decent work is the best way to fight against poverty.

11. United Kingdom – The Wage Gap Is Partly Due to Prejudice

A recent UK government study finds that two-thirds of the wage gap between women and men is due to factors such as discrimination that have nothing to do with skills or productivity. Prejudice still means that women earn less than men doing the same job. Almost two-thirds of the gap is unexplained, and one-third is explained.

The study found a larger wage premium for men working in manufacturing. This could either mean that women work in less skilled jobs in manufacturing. or that discrimination in manufacturing is more widespread. Men also enjoy a premium in energy, mining, and quarrying. The only area where women had such a wage premium was in the public sector.

The UK’s Fawcett Society points out that the employment culture has changed very little since the industrial revolution. The workplace was originally set up for men to work all hours and for women to tend the household. The long-hour culture is still the expectation.

Part-time work is still stigmatized, which makes it less likely to command good pay or high regard. Thus it is difficult to combine work and family life. Long hours are still seen to be essential to success. And employers still see women of childbearing age as a liability at work.

The recent increase in maternity benefits has made employers even more wary of hiring women. The only way to create gender equality is to grant both women and men time off for family responsibilities.

12. United States – Women’s Unemployment Is Rising

The unemployment of women has been going up in the US for the past few months. Long-term unemployment has started to spread to services where large numbers of women work. The impact on women is severe.

Women earn less than men do to start with, and have fewer assets to fall back on. They lose their health care and suffer life-threatening illnesses. Home foreclosures rise, leaving women and children homeless. Domestic violence becomes more rampant. In July, 5.7 million workers, the highest number in 14 years, reported they had worked part-time because full-time jobs were unavailable.

Still, there are millions more workers discouraged from seeking work who no longer figure in the statistics. Many working women do not qualify for benefits under the current system, which should be overhauled to meet the needs of the 21st century. One out of six workers in the US works part-time. But among women, one out of four does. Insurance benefits do not cover these workers sufficiently by a long shot.


Resources:

Gender Links for Equality and Justice

Women Matter: Gender Diversity, a Corporate Performance Driver

hProduction and Reproduction: Stealing the Health of Future Generations