More than 140 women from all over the world joined the UNI World Women’s Committee meeting that took place on Tuesday, 23 June via Zoom.
Due to the extraordinary circumstances the world is currently facing, and in an effort to share our work with all affiliates, the meeting was open to guests.
The meeting, which was opened by the UNI World Women’s President, Patricia Nyman, from SACCAWU, South Africa; included the presence of the UNI General Secretary Christy Hoffman and UNI Deputy General Secretary Alke Boessiger.
In her opening remarks, Patricia Nyman highlighted the anniversary of the adoption of ILO Convention 190 during the International Labour Conference in June 2019 and the impact the Covid-19 has had on women workers across the world. “We have seen with alarm the increase in gender-based violence and domestic violence as a result of the pandemic and lockdown measures. The increased burden of household and care responsibilities have created additional mental health issues for women workers,” said Patricia.
Members of the committee from all regions and representing all sectors shared briefly on the impact of the pandemic in their work and in their regions.
The discussion was followed by a presentation on the process of the adoption of ILO Convention 190 and the work UNI, through its UNI Equal Opportunities department, has carried out with all Global Unions to push for the ratification of the Convention by member states.
The meeting closed with a brief report from all regions and feedback on the work life balance survey published in May 2020 and which has reached almost 5,000 responses from all over the world.
