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The Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana, has called on the Government to facilitate the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill (AAB) which is currently before Parliament.
“As we celebrate the 2024 International Women’s Day, we once again call on the Government to facilitate the
The Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana, has called on the Government to facilitate the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill (AAB) which is currently before Parliament.
“As we celebrate the 2024 International Women’s Day, we once again call on the Government to facilitate the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill (AAB) which is long overdue.”
In a statement issued on the International Women’s Day, it indicated that “TUC will continue to promote women’s rights and gender empowerment in and out of the workplace and across the country.”
“Count Her In: Invest in Working Women, Accelerate Progress: The Role of Trades Union”, the theme for the 2024 International Women’s Day, recognises the importance of equal access to education, employment
It also ensures the protection of rights of working women in addressing the gender gap on widening workplace inequalities and gender based violence.
The TUC called on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises and Government to accelerate the processes towards the ratification of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 190 on Violence and Harassment in the world of work, adding that over 36 countries across the world had ratified the C. 190, including Nigeria.
“We further urge the Government to fast-track the ratification of ILO Convention 183 on Maternity Protection to extend the period of maternity leave to at least 14 weeks to give better protection to women,” it added.
Dr Abena Nyakoa Asomaning, the Managing Director of Africa Environmental Sanitation Consult ((AfESC), speaking at the International Women’s Day in Accra, said “according to the 2021 population and housing census, women constitute 40 per cent of all household heads in Ghana, with their labour force participation nearing 65 per cent. Despite this, there persists a
misconception regarding women’s capabilities, expertise, and self-confidence in assuming leadership roles, often neglecting issues pertinent to women.”
She noted that while Ghana had made strides in addressing gender equality through political, legal, and institutional frameworks, disparities persisted across other sectors.
Dr Asomaning indicated that “the 2020 Global Gender Gap Index score of 0.67 indicates a 33 per cent gender gap in opportunities, encompassing education, employment, and access to resources.
According to her, the World Bank’s gender inequality index of 0.583 highlighted the unequal distribution of human development between males and females, further exacerbated by cultural norms designating men as heads of households, leaving women to represent only 31.4 per cent of household heads in Ghana.
Dr Asomaning indicated that women frequently encountered discrimination and harassment in the workplace based on their gender, fostering hostile work environments and detrimental effects on mental health.
Dr Asomaning, therefore, appealed to women to take up leadership roles to speed up the progress toward gender equality adding that “together, we can create a world where every woman thrives and contributes to society”.
Source: myghanadaily
