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TRADE UNION SCHOOL OF MKS FOR WOMEN FROM CENTRAL AND EAST EUROPE, COMMUNITY OF INDEPENDENT STATES OF KAVKAZ AND CENTRAL ASIA, ORGANIZED IN SOFIA FROM OCTOBER 2 – 6.

DISCRIMINATION OF WOMEN AT THE WORKPLACE




Belgrade, October 26 2007
The Regional Women’s Conference on discrimination of women at the workplace analyzed the research results within the project titled ‘’International Trade Union Conferences’’, International Labor Organizations and Flemish Government of Belgium, ‘’Discrimination of women at the workplace in Central and East Europe and in the Community of Independent States’’, which was carried out in 24 countries by active members of women’s network. The participants in the Regional Conference were women – union leaders of women’s network MKS from 50 Trade Union Confederations, from 28 countries of CIE, ZND, Kavkaz and Central Asia. Over 80 women participants of the VIII Trade Union School of MKS had the opportunity, in four days, working in groups, to speak about and analyze the most important women’s problems they experience at the workplace.

Three groups, namely, Central Europe, Southeast Europe and the Community of Independent States analyzed the position and women discrimination in their countries and the region they came from, by analyzing the statutory regulations and national policies against women discrimination through national documents. It was concluded that it was necessary to form national bodies for monitoring the equality of the sexes on a three-party level. As an idea, the only proper way of solving discrimination problems is possible through government institutions. One should especially insist on and make possible that the education on discrimination is organized among the men population, because men are often a predominant source of women discrimination in a society and at the workplace too. The media and civil sector play a key role in the process of preventing women discrimination.

Sergej Zblivastak – MKS (Lithuania) spoke about the informal economy and its specific characteristics, and he is responsible for organization, informal economy and emigration. He has worked in the Trade Union of Commerce for 14 years, where 85% of the workforce are women. A national team is to be formed in line with the informal economy project, and Sergej’s arrival in Belgrade is expected in the period: November 23 – 24. According to ILO’s definition, the informal economy consists of all economic activities not being comprised, in practice, by Labor Contracts and benefits resulting from Contracts. There is some data on employment within the gray economy on the territory of Southeast Europe.

-Montenegro: 30-35% employed in the gray economy
-Croatia: 10-20%
-Serbia: 35-40%
-Kosovo: 60%
-Albania: 25-30%.

There is a large number of people employed in the gray economy in Czech Republic and Hungary, the EU members, although the transition process ended in the mentioned countries. In this way, trade unions lose their members and people work without Labor Contracts and social and health insurance.

On the other hand, this is a chance for trade unions to attract those people, so that they become their members. For this reason, it should be regulated by trade union Statutes. From the economic viewpoint, almost all countries on these territories from the industrial society are gradually transformed into informatics society and service centers. Trade unions have no experience in performing activities within the informal economy. Serbia has some experience regarding informal economy by changing the Statute (possibility of individual union membership).

The ‘’Nezavisnost’’ Union has surveillance over informal sector and those are its future members.

Jasna Petrovic, coordinator for Southeast Europe, presented the data on women’s presence in trade unions. Statistical data of our region tell us about constant presence of men on the managerial decision-making positions.

From 50% of women in trade unions, there is 15,5% in the executive bodies, and Serbia (UBU ‘’Nezavisnost’’) is on the penultimate position according to this criterion.

The Women’s Union School will be organized in Torino (Turin) (Italy) next year. There will be some novelties, because the Pan-European Regional Council – PERS (EKS and MKS) shall be formed, the Statute is in the preparation phase and there is a place for eight women in this body and there are also six places reserved for Women’s Committee. Any trade union in the sub-region is entitled to propose its women participant for Women’s School and if trade unions have possibilities, this number can be increased.

A generally accepted conclusion of women participants in this trade union school lies in the fact that education on women discrimination is necessary as for women so also for men and that it would be useful that such events are organized at national levels.

 
     
 
 
 
 
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