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International Trade Union Confederation – ITUC

Sofia May 7-8 2009

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Equality at global level Equality at the workplace

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Decent Work Decent Life for women Campaign

Previous Internationalcampaigns show e.g.:• Increase in women

membership rates up to 150%;• Increase of women in elected

positions;• Unions prioritise advocacy

work, collective bargaining on gender equality at work e.g. maternity protection, child care, pay equity and protection from sexual harassment.  

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Campaign actions

Calling for a review of national labour legislation and urging governments to ratify and implement ILO Conventions e.g. :• C. 183, Maternity protection

ITUC video• C. 156, Workers with Family responsibilities• C. 100, Equal Remuneration• C. 111, Discrimination

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Objectives for Decent Work, Decent Life for Women

• Decent work for women

• Gender equality in trade union structures, policies and activities

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Since the launch of the Campaign on 8 March 2008

• 90 National Centers in 61 Countries have joined the Campaign

• Events to kick of the Campaign focusing on: Maternity protection rights Child care facilities, Pay Equity Work – life balance Gender equality in trade unions

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Decent Work

Access to productive work in conditions of freedom, equality, security, and dignity.

The four pillars of Decent Work: 1. Standards and rights at work, 2. Employment creation3. Social protection 4. Social dialogue.

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Campaign actions

• Gender Equality at the centre of collective bargaining and social dialogue

• More women in elected positions• Significant increase of women membership

rates

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Tips for activitiesPilot Survey – ‘Ask a Working Woman’ carried out by ICFTU in 2000

The most frequently ticked reasons why women do NOT join a union were:1. Do not understand how union can help me (71.7%)2. Have no time because of family responsibilities (58.4%) 3. No one has approached me (57.6%)4. Negative image of union (50.8%)5. Union not sensitive to my needs (42.4%)6. Male dominated (38.0%)7. Fear reprisal by employer (34.2%)8. Objections from spouse or family (27.3%)9. Membership dues (25.2%)

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Campaign Key Dates

8 March worldwide publication of the Gender Pay Gap report II

7 October 2nd World Day for Decent Work

25 November UN Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women

8 March International Women’s Day

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CAMPAIGN WEB SITE AND E-MAIL LIST

• Campaign webpage: www.ituc-csi.org, click on ‘equality’ and ‘women’ for the Campaign Guide, Wage Gap Report and More

• Campaign email list – send your email addresses to equality@ituc-csi.org

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ITUC report on the global gender pay gap:

Gender (in)equality

in the labour market: an overview of global trends

and developments

You can find the report here:www.ituc-csi.org

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WageIndicator database Income Data Services

300,000 individual self-reported surveys in 24 countries

Argentina Guatemala PolandBelgium Hungary RussiaBrazil India South AfricaChile Italy SpainDenmark Korea SwedenFinland Mexico Great BritainFrance USA ParaguayGermany The Netherlands

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Three parts in the report:

1. The gender pay gap

2. Women’s position in the labour market during economic downturns

3. Violence against women

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2008: Global pay gap:

16,5 %

2009: Global pay gap:

22 %

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Biggest pay gaps:

Brazil 38,5 %

Argentina: 29 %

Mexico 36 %

Smallest pay gaps:

Paraguay 11 %

Denmark: 12 %

Sweden: 13 %

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Earnings between

men and women

widens with age

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The higher the education

– the higher the negative impact

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Wider pay gap

in the private sector

- but not always

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The impact of part time jobs

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Trade union membership has

a positive influence on

the gender pay gap

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About 25 % are dissatisfied with their Work-Life balance

Work-Life balance

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The impact of the recession

on women’s employment

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More women in boardrooms!

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Violence Against Women

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Gender Violence Throughout the Life Cycle (Source: The World Bank, 1994)[i]

PhaseType of violence present

Prenatal:Battering during pregnancy; coerced pregnancy; deprivation

of food and liquids; sex-selective abortion

Infancy:Female infanticide; emotional and physical abuse;

differential access to food and medical care for girl infants

Childhood:Child marriage; genital mutilation; sexual abuse by family

members and strangers; differential access to food and medical care; child prostitution

Adolescence:Rape and marital rape; sexual assault; forced prostitution;

trafficking in women; courtship violence; economically coerced sex; sexual abuse in the workplace

Reproductive age:

Abuse of women by intimate partners; marital rape; dowry abuse and murders; partner homicide; psychological abuse; sexual abuse in the workplace; sexual harassment; rape; abuse of women with disabilities; legal discrimination

Old age: Abuse and exploitation of widows

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Who bears the costs? A UK example. (Source: Walby, 2004)[i]

Type of costState Individual victim

Employers

Total cost(£ millions)

Criminal Justice System 1,017 1,017

Health care:

Physical 1,208 12 1,220

Mental health 176 176

Social services 228 228

Housing and refuges 130 28 158

Civil legal costs 159 152 312

All services 2,918 192 3,111

Employment 1,336 1,336 2,672

Sub-total 2,918 1,528 1,336 5,783

Human costs 17,082 17,086

Total (£ millions) 2,918 18,610 1,336 22,869

[i] Walby, S. (2004), The Cost of Domestic Violence. Publication of the UK Department of Trade and Industry, Women and Equality Unit.

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Recommendations

• Bold action by politicians and policy makers

• Need of statistics

• Making women aware of the benefits of trade union membership• Women’s agenda

• Violence against women cost!