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New Arab trade union women’s network

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By Hannah Boast
WVoN co-editor

The International Trade Union Confederation has celebrated International Women’s Day by launching a new trade union network for Arab women at a meeting in Tunisia.

The network, called ‘On the move to Equality’, will be a vital tool for improving women’s representation in the Arab trade union movement.

It will also help women to participate in the struggle for democracy and better socio-economic conditions in the Arab states.

Speaking at the launch, International Trade Union Confederation general secretary Sharan Burrow highlighted the role of women trade unionists in the recent and ongoing uprisings across the Arab region:

‘From Egypt, Yemen, Palestine, Algeria, Jordan, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia, the women trade unionists here today are testimony to the front line role of women in the revolutions and reformist movements sweeping the Arab world.’

The ITUC argues that improved working conditions are closely connected to the struggle for democracy and has long been critical of violations of worker’s fundamental rights in the Arab states.

A number of factors mean that women are particularly vulnerable to workplace exploitation. The region has the lowest level of female participation in the labour market in the world, at just 25%.

Multiple discriminations against women mean that they are forced into low-paid, insecure employment in agriculture, export processing zones and the care and service sectors.

Domestic workers, especially in the Middle East and Gulf states, often suffer poor living and working conditions that are exacerbated because of their unprotected migrant status.

Sharan Burrow concluded that: ‘The winds of change, for more democracy, rights, social justice and decent work, now  sweeping across the whole Arab region are an historic opportunity for women to win the equal standing that is their due in society, in the labour market and in their trade union organisations. Arab women must be fully involved in this surge towards democracy.’

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