Accra: UNI-Africa, a regional organization focused on the welfare of service sector workers, has urged workers' unions to incorporate gender equality policies into their Collective Agreements (CAs). This initiative aims to foster inclusive and equitable workplaces.
According to Ghana News Agency, the call was made by Madam Patricia Nyman, UNI-Africa Women President, during a workshop in Accra on Gender Equality, Collective Bargaining, and Parental Rights. The workshop was organized by the Trades Union Solidarity Centre of Finland (UNI-SASK) and gathered three unions in Ghana: the Communication Workers' Union (CWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Industrial and Commercial Workers' Union (ICU), and the TUC Security Union. This event is part of the ongoing SASK Project, funded by Finnish Unions, which commenced in 2022 and is set to continue until 2025. The project aims to enhance the capacity of UNI-Africa affiliates and potential affiliates in Ghana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.
Madam Nyman emphasized the necessity of integrating gender-responsive provisions into CAs to combat workplace gender disparities. During the workshop, she covered various topics, including the concept of gender and gender equality, the status of women in the workplace, and the impact of sexual harassment, along with strategies to address these issues. As the National Gender Coordinator, she highlighted how these challenges collectively impede women's progress and called for intentional policy interventions by unions to address their effects.
Madam Nyman pointed out that women face numerous barriers in their careers, education, and personal development, many of which are rooted in societal expectations related to household chores and caregiving roles. She stressed that tasks such as cooking, washing, and child care are socially constructed responsibilities rather than inherently female roles. She urged unions to advocate for gender policies that support women's career advancement while acknowledging the dual roles they often play in society.
Addressing sexual harassment, Madam Nyman described it as 'an unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that undermines the dignity of victims, most of whom are women.' She advocated for increased education and training on the issue and the inclusion of explicit anti-sexual harassment clauses in CAs to safeguard workers.
Ms. Leocadie Bodjouo, UNI-Africa Regional Representative for Women and a facilitator at the workshop, reiterated the need to dismantle gender-based obstacles in both professional and domestic settings. She emphasized that achieving gender equality begins with shared responsibility, noting that both men and women are capable of performing household chores. Participants were encouraged to act as agents of change within their unions and workplaces, promoting gender-inclusive policies and equitable practices.
