Kathmandu, June 27 . Women continue to face increasing challenges (sex/gender-based discrimination) at workplace which range from harassment to pay discriminations for equal work.
Growing privatisation and liberalisation has led to the increase of workplace challenges for women.
This was shared in the South Asia Women Committee meeting of Asia Pacific Regional Executive Committee, Public Services International (PSI) underway in the capital. PSI serves as the global federation for public sector trade unions.
Talking to RSS, PSI Secretary General Rosa Pavanelli said the growing government policy of privatising industries and factories has pushed women workers towards the vulnerability to various sorts of violence against them.
“Women’s condition at workplace is miserable and this picture is the not issue of Asia, but is shared by the whole world.”
Harassment including sexual at workplace, informal economy, lack of women leadership in trade unions and equal pay for equal work are the common issues and major concerns of working women.
As she said, the World Bank’s focus on the privation of market economy has forced women to live a miserable life as privation primarily focuses on making more and more profit, exploiting workers’ rights.
Workers’ problems have further increased due to the privation of even health, education and drinking water sectors.
On the occasion, the role and responsibility of labour ministry was sought to end workplace violence against women.
The PSI has implemented various programmes aimed at minimising workplace violence against women.
Stating that the Government of Sri Lanka has guaranteed 25 percent mandatory quota for women at the local level government, the meeting termed the State policy of increasing women’s participation at the local level in Nepal was a positive start and praiseworthy.
According to South Asia Pacific Sub-Regional Secretary Kannan Raman, the meeting to run till tomorrow will discuss about the situation of women workers, trying to identify future ways and strategies to address issues concerning them.
