
Women and Youth Rise Up During COVID-19
22 April 2020
WOMEN
AND YOUTH RISE UP DURING COVID-19
7
- 9 April and 22 April 2020
The
ITUC-AP/DGB BW Project “Strengthening women and youth leadership within the
trade union movement for decent work” hosted two in a series of online
consultations between 7 - 9 April and 22 April 2020 on: (1) Effect of COVID-19
on women and youth in ASEAN; and (2) Project templates for national activities.
The
virtual events had 29 registered participants [12 for the first; 7 for the
second; 10 for the third one]. These activities were organised to sustain the
momentum in building leadership of women and youth, including in the context of
COVID-19.
Women and Youth Leading the Way Against COVID-19, 7 - 9
April 2020
The
first event was organised into three separate geographical areas: Cambodia and
Indonesia on 7 April; Malaysia, Philippines on 8 April; and Thailand and Timor
Leste on 9 April.
Reflecting
on what’s happening in their respective countries, the conversations revolved
around:
· COVID-19
situation in the country
· Measures in
place to protect workers in general, and those in the frontlines
· What unions
have been demanding from governments
· How has
COVID-19 affected women and youth differently and what specific support was
given to them, if any
· Role of and
contributions made by women / youth in these initiatives and in the advocacy
and campaigns to ensure proper responses to disasters/pandemics
As
the world grapples with unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19
pandemic, women and youth representatives (WYRs) shared how they demonstrate
their continued leadership in their companies and in unions.
Cambodia: WYRs and the confederation proposed the
payment of wages of garment workers whose work operations are suspended or
closed to at least 40 per cent of the salaries; government agreed to pay 40 per
cent of workers salary. WYRs negotiate with employers to provide face masks,
PPEs and alcohol to workers if required to work; produce leaflets about
COVID-19 and distribute to workers to protect themselves.
Indonesia: WYRs and their unions bargain with their
employers to provide proper PPEs, face masks and hand sanitisers or alcohol to
workers who are required to work. Unions intensify participation in the
on-going parliamentary discussions on the Omnibus Law where workers’ rights and
benefits are threatened to encourage investments.
Philippines: WYRs and their unions provide loans for union
members and help bargain for no loan payment with their employers until at
least June 2020; unions collect donations in cash or in kind for relief goods;
participate in decision-making in the confederation regarding proposals to the
government concerning COVID-19.
Malaysia: WYRs help workers whose employers and
workplaces violate regulations during the lockdown; complaints include
non-payment of appropriate wage subsidy, violation of safety and PPE standards.
Thailand: WYRs help negotiate proper or increased
compensation for terminated or forced to retire workers, including
subcontracted and migrant workers; masks gloves and hand sanitisers for workers
if required to work, and to protect commuters in the case of the railway union;
encourage workers not to sign anything as their companies force them to
voluntarily resign.
Timor Leste: WYRs help receive complaints and support
workers through the hotline established by the confederation; complaints
include non-payment of family support as mandated by the government,
non-provision of proper PPEs and face masks. WYRs keep pushing the government and
employers to address dengue which is equally dangerous as COVID-19.
Project Implementation at the National Level Made Easy, 22
April 2020
This
second discussion brought together 18 women and youth and support team from
affiliates from six (6) countries – Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines,
Thailand and Vietnam.
The
Project team discussed templates developed to assist affiliates and trained
women and youth implement programs at the national level. The discussion
focused on preparing activity plans and proposals based on priorities and
progress of contributing to the project indicators and preparing narrative and
expenditure reports.
Given
the COVID-19 situation, the Project continues to use virtual conference tools
for periodic online meetings for trainees to share their experiences with and
gain from each other in implementing the project while addressing women and
youth concerns in their unions and elsewhere.