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Women organisers for asserting women rights

Published: 7 August 2008
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 Participants attending an Organisers Course for women expressed their concerns that women workers were not well represented in their trade unions. They strongly felt that because of the lack of women representation and participation women issues were not seriously taken up by their unions. In fact they have seen in many cases that they were sidelined and regarded as a non priority issue or even worse a non issue. The course aroused their interest and determination to do something about the situation and to promote women participation in mainstream trade union activities.



The five day Organiser’s Course for women was held recently in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia. The course was jointly conducted by the Frederich Ebert Stiftung and the UNI Apro. Twenty two participants from Indonesia, Sarawark, Sabah Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand took part in the course. Mr Axel Schmidt Head of Office, Office of Regional Cooperation Southeast Asia FES, Singapore was the Chief guest and speaker at the course. In his presentation he highlighted the role of FES in a continuously changing global setting. He also lamented at the lack of trade union involvement in economic and social integration issues and processes which he said will have direct implications and consequence on the welfare and well being of workers in the region.



The objectives of the course is to provide the participants with organising and communication skills so as to enable them to be effective organisers. In addition the course aims at increasing their awareness on the plight of women workers and women issues and to motivate them to play an active role in the activities of their organisations.



The participants found the course very interesting and meaningful. In the five days they were together they developed friendship and camaraderie which bodes well for international solidarity and fraternity in the global union. They said that the subject content was useful to them and they really felt empowered by the skills and knowledge that they had learnt. They also found the course fun and interesting and participated enthusiastically throughout the course. In the words of Sister Mick Garcia a participant “ I just want to say that the training we had has been really so enriching and I will be glad to pass this on also to my local union.…I will forever cherish the fun, laughter and friendship that I have shared in each one of you ‘



Participants to the workshop were determined to fulfill the objectives of the course. They said with conviction and confidence that they will implement their individual work plan which is a follow up project work of the course. UNI Apro training team comprise of Sister Alice Chang Director Women and Youth, Sister Hadiah Leen President SBEU Sarawak and Bro Hashim Lobe Director Trade Union Development Activities and Information.