In our industries, there are many women in temporary or casual work involving irregular or unusual hours or hired on a contract or piece-rate basis. They are paid less than men and normally are not covered by labour and social security regulations nor by the collective agreements. In the construction industry, women work very hard and long hours carrying bricks and mortar, breaking stones, pouring concrete and doing earth work. They generally continue to be regarded as unskilled even after they have worked in the industry many years. When they are young, they are exploited and harassed and when they are old they are told to leave.

Women are still under-represented in the total membership of unions - about 20 per cent of BWI global trade union membership - and represent a mere percentage in the decision-making bodies of unions. They are unaware of their rights or do not understand how unions can help them because they are poorly educated or often fear reprisals by employers. Since women are also increasingly engaged in atypical forms of work, they also tend to be more difficult to reach and organize. And very often, they do not have time to join unions because of conflicting family responsibilities.

Our Global programme addresses the needs and priorities of women workers in our sectors and seeks to integrate women in existing trade union structures. Affiliates must recruit women members and give them a voice in decision-making, promote gender equality and address the problems of vulnerable women workers - young, old, migrant, disabled, indigenous or coloured. Having women committees, women officers would incite women to join union's for protection.

Our International Women's Committee in 1998 adopted a Charter for Affirmative Action and Bargaining Agenda for equality. Regional Women's Committees (RWC) were formed to motivate women participation in trade unions while also lobbying the union leadership to create conducive environments for women.

We also campaign for the ratification of ILO Convention 183 on Maternity protection; and global activities on International Women's Day (8th March); and focus on health and safety women training and increase awareness on HIV/AIDS.

Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination based on sex as it is any unwanted verbal, physical or gestural sexual advances made by someone and offensive to the worker. Referred to in ILO Convention No.111, it encompasses a wide range of unwanted sexual advances.

Regarding youth, we strongly encourage affiliates to:

Access concerns of young workers to promote trade unionism among them.

Increase youth participation in trade union education programmes.

Educate young people on their basic trade union rights.

Include issues specifically affecting young workers in negotiations and collective bargaining.

Make agreements with employers about the conditions of employment for young people.

Appoint young workers as union organisers and train young people as health and safety educators.

Actively seek to recruit young people into trade unions.

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