South Asian Workers Gender Platform
The platform focuses to promote gender equality and eliminate all forms of violence and harassment at workplaces against workers in South Asia. Launched with the initial support from Dutch Solidarity Support Organisation Mondiaal FNV, the lead has been taken by HomeNet South Asia. We expect the trade unions in South Asia to take measures to promote gender sensitive and safe working environment for workers, especially in addressing violence and discriminations faced by workers (male, female and LGBTQI+) with essential union structures.
The Platform is open to the member affiliates of the Asia-Pacific International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-AP) through SARTUC (South Asia Regional Trade Union Confederation) with particular focus on Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Participation is open to the members of:
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National centres and their members from various sectors
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Global Union Federations and affiliates
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Government and their institutions: legislative bodies, administrative services
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Employers and their institutions/platforms at different levels
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Other civil society organisations working on issues of women and gender
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Research institutions and academic institutions
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Multilateral organisations including International Labour Organisation (ILO)
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ITUC-AP & SARTUC
The Internal Complaints Committee is only for women, as a trans woman I wanted to file a complaint against a male worker who was making me feel uncomfortable by making sexually colored remarks. But I was not allowed to.
-27 year old transgender woman working as a Research Assistant at a University in S. India
Partners
South Asian Regional Trade Union Council (SARTUC) is a regional federation of national level trade unions of South Asia. Established in 1988, SARTUC exists to unite the workers organised in the free and democratic trade unions of the South Asia region and to afford a means of consultation and collaboration between member trade unions. One of the primary aims of SARTUC is to maintain and develop a powerful and effective organisation at the regional level, composed of free and democratic trade unions and pledged to the task of promoting the interests of the working people of the region and of enhancing the dignity of labour while furthering the establishment, maintenance and development of free trade unions in the countries of the region. Furthermore, SARTUC strives for the establishment of full employment, the eradication of poverty, the elimination of adverse discrimination on grounds of race, sex, nationality or creed; the improvement of working conditions; the introduction, maintenance and extension of social security for all; and raising the standard of living of people of the region.