Durban - As South Africa commemorates Women’s Day on Tuesday, trade union Uasa has called on the government, stakeholders and communities to do their part for skills development among women.
The union says South Africa needs more women in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
“Uasa already plays a role in the STEM development of women with its Women in Mining programme, where female Uasa members employed in the mining sector are encouraged to utilise opportunities available to them to upskill and develop themselves,” said Uasa spokesperson Abigail Moyo.
Uasa said some 66 years after 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the notorious pass laws, women still face inequality, discrimination, gender stereotyping, gender-based violence (GBV) and harassment at home and work.
“This sad reality paints a dissolute picture of how long women have been fighting the battle for equality.
“Uasa continues to advocate for the adoption of Convention 190 (C190) across all industries and sectors in South Africa. The C190 is the ‘Violence and Harassment’ Convention adopted by the International Labour Organization, which advocates for the right of everyone to work in an environment free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment,“ she said.
Moyo said that while GBV and sexual harassment in the workplace and at home continue to be a challenge for many women, the union wanted people to say enough is enough.
“Men who impose acts of violence on women must be dealt with accordingly.”
“Uasa encourages women to make a stand, establish themselves across leadership platforms in society and at work, and crack the glass ceiling in male-dominated fields,” she said, wishing all women in South Africa a happy Women’s Day.