PART - SEVEN
Gender Policies of Labour Organisations
 

A. General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT)

The General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) initiated women activities by holding a National Seminar in 1991. In light of the Seminar recommendations, the first National Congress held in 1992 decided to set up a separate women department with the status on a par with national affiliates. Special activities on women began with the establishment of Central Women Workers Department (CWWD) on May 5, 1992. The department has consolidated itself over times. Its Second National Congress adopted a special programme entitled 'Women Workers Campaign.

The National Congress has adopted following policies:

• The Co-ordinator of CWWD will be an ex-officio member of the GEFONT National Executive Committee.

• CWWD's representation in the national council will be equal to that of national affiliates.

• Twenty-five percent women participation in every activity of GEFONT, and 25 percent male participation in women programs.

Special programmes on women through a separate department in each affiliate.

The Third National Congress held on 1-3 May 2000, adopted the following policy on women:

• CWWD will act as a special department of GEFONT.

• Women delegates in the National Congress will elect a Co-ordinator of CWWD; the chief will be an ex-officio member of the National Executive Committee.

• CWWD will be formed by organizing the women leaders of Central Committees of GEFONT affiliates.

• 10 Zonal Women Workers Department (ZWWD) will be formed. The chief of the ZWWD will be an ex-officio member of the National Council, CWWD and the Zonal Committee.

• CWWD representatives in National Council will have an equal status to that of the national affiliates.

• Twenty-five percent women should participate in every GEFONT activity and 25 percent men in every women activity CWWD members will not exceed 25 persons.

• CWWD will be subordinate to the National Executive Committee; ZWWD to the Zonal Committee and affiliates to women departments in the concerned affiliate.

On the basis of the above policies, CWWD has developed following objectives

• Conduct various activities to develop the leadership of women in the labour movement.

• Do research, survey and collect information about women in work and labour movement, and publicise the findings.

• Identify women/gender problems at the workplace and launch campaigns to resolve them.

• Conduct various activities to make the union movement gender-sensitive.

• Foster co-ordination and co-operation between the labour movement and national women's movement on women issues.

B. Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC)

Nepal Trade Union Congress is another trade union centre in the country. NTUC has the following policies:

• Thirty percent reservation for women in every union committee and activity.

• Formation of women committees in order to run activities for women.

• Run separate activities to develop women leadership.

C. Democratic Confederation of
     Nepalese Trade Unions (DECONT)

Democratic Confederation of Nepalese Trade Unions (DECONT) has adopted the following policy on women workers:

• Formation of women departments from central to district levels.

• Provision of elected woman vice- president in the central committee.

• Run credible and sustainable activities to develop women leadership.

D. ITUC Gender Policy:

"Pro-Worker Trade Unionism and Women Workers"

GEFONT in cooperation with Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Link (APWSL) organised an International Conference of Trade Unions in Kathmandu in 1994. Altogether 63 representatives of 38 trade unions and labour organisations from 15 countries took part in the Conference.

The Conference adopted a Kathmandu Declaration of International Trade Union Conference (ITUC). The Declaration states that pro-worker trade unionism recognises the double oppression of women, the rapidly increasing proportion of women in the new global workforce and the difficulty that women are facing to achieve leadership positions in trade unions. The Declaration is committed to eliminating discrimination, sexual harassment, trafficking of women and other women issues and problems in the society.

The ITUC has set the following action plan to promote the interests of women.

We acknowledge the double burden facing the working women. They are oppressed both as workers and as women in the societies. We also acknowledge that modern industrialisation is highly increasing the proportion of women in industrial services and other forms of employment. We recognise that the economic liberalisation and privatisation policies have specific effects on women workers, which must be taken up by the trade union movement.

In order to address this situation and to strengthen the participation of women in trade unions we specifically agree to:

• Create or strengthen women's departments in our respective unions and centres.

• Develop education and awareness campaigns specifically for women workers.

• Educate male trade unionists, husbands and family members to assist greater participation of women in trade unions by taking responsibility for household and other family work.

• Build confidence in women by providing them with training on social and political issues.

We specifically agree to campaign on issues that affect workingwomen:

1. Equal wages and job opportunities for women

2. Elimination of all forms of discrimination against women

3. Free child care for women

4. Paid parental leave

5. Eliminate sexual harassment at work and in society

6. Ensure decent residential and housing facilities

7. Guarantee social security

8. Defeat oppressive fundamentalist forces

9. Fight patriarchal values and the gender division of labour.

Promote international networking, organisation building and women leadership of garment workers, where a large number of women are working.

Celebrate 8 March as the international workingwomen's' day by organising joint-union actions to draw the attention of the concerned to the long neglected plight of female workers.

E. National Labour Policy and Working Women

General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) began working effectively towards the formulation of a concrete labour policy from 1996. The confederation developed its agenda through the discussion with workers working in different sectors and persons at national policy decision level and labour- organisations. The Second National Congress, held on March 1996, approved the concept document. The first National Labour Conference of Nepal held in 1997 reaffirmed the document.

His Majesty's Government has declared a National Labour Policy in late 1999. The Labour Policy that includes many recommendations forwarded by GEFONT has following policies on women.

• Encourage various sectors of work and organisation to employ women and disabled in their organisation.

• Encourage social programs for women and disabled in employment promotion, training and human resource development.

• Provide tax exemption for enterprises as an encouragement for providing employment opportunities for women.

This labour policy is seemingly concentrated on increasing employment for women workers. As expected by the GEFONT, the policy is not committed to eliminating social and gender discrimination against women. It has also not been able to reflect the spirit of the First National Labour Conference. Speakers, in a seminar on the National Labour Policy organised jointly by International Labour Organisation (ILO) and GEFONT in December 1999, were of the view that the Labour Policy should give high priority to matters relating to gender and women labour and that all should continue their effort to establish a proper place for women labour in the Labour Policy.