Women workers do not have easy access to the market because of harassment at workplaces, says Joseph. PHOTO: FILE
Women workers on Wednesday urged the government to allot 15 per cent shops in model bazaars for women entrepreneurs.
They were addressing a meeting for formation of district-level networks with stakeholders. The event was hosted by the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (AWAM).
As many as 25 government officials, women workers’ leaders, trade unionists, journalists and representatives of civil society attended the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, AWAM director Nazia Sardar said, “It is a pity that many female leaders exploit rights women workers.”
She said some women parliamentarians women empowerment issues for personal gain.
“These women should defend rights of oppressed women and help them get fair wages and employment benefits,” she said.
AWAM Project Manager Shazia George said home-based workers were not recognised as labour.
“Women workers are invisible in labour laws,” she said
She said the government must acknowledge their contribution to the economy and legal cover to workers engaged in the informal sector.
She said the government must ensure fair representation of women by allotting them 15 per cent shops in model bazaars as per the quota in government schemes and jobs.
Women Shelter Organisation president Razia Joseph said job insecurity was was a reason why many women never ventured out of their houses.
“Women workers do not have easy access to the market because of a culture of harassment at workplaces,” she said.
She said they should be encouraged to start small scale businesses.
Social Welfare Department Deputy District Officer Sofia Rizwan said there was need for links between the government and NGOs to ensure access of women workers to the market.
“It is our responsibility to arrange exhibitions to promote their work and create employment opportunities for them,” she said. Arif Ayaz, a trade unionist, said it was tragic that women were not organised in unions. “They should increase their visibility so that they can address the disparity between men and women workers over working hours, wages, opportunities and employment benefits.” He said women workers should form trade unions and associations to challenge laws, policies and discriminatory practices.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2015.
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