Landmark Global Conference to Tackle Impact of Jobs Crisis on Women

450 women trade union delegates from 100 countries will gather in Brussels this week to analyse the impacts of the global jobs crisis on women and map out international trade union action to improve women’s job security, pay and conditions. The first ITUC World Women’s Conference, entitled “Decent Work, Decent Life for Women” will examine how trade unions are taking the lead on economic and social justice and equality. A major focus of the program will be on reaching out to the most vulnerable and exploited women such as domestic workers, while discussions will also center on the position of women within trade unions, achieving gender equality through collective bargaining and extending social protection and social security.
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“The lack of progress on women’s rights, in particular at the workplace, is a clear and damning indictment of the failed free-market fundamentalism which reigned supreme until it led the world into the worst recession for 70 years. Gender equality is central to our trade union agenda for a just and equitable global economy, which reaches from the workplace through to the leaders of the G20 and the UN. This Conference will reinforce and build on that, and will help bring the message to working women and men across the world,” said ITUC President Sharan Burrow, who will address the Conference opening along with trade union leaders from the Belgian host organisations and representatives of the ILO, including Director General Juan Somavia via video link.
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