The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on government to urgently accelerate efforts toward the ratification of ILO Convention 190 to protect workers, particularly women, from violence and harassment in the world of work.
The call was made during the national commemoration of International Women’s Day held in the Upper East Region under the theme “Rights, Justice, Action for All Women and Girls – The Role of Trade Unions.”
Speaking at the event, the National Women’s Committee Chairperson of the Trades Union Congress, Rebecca Kwashie, said that although some progress had been made in advancing women’s rights, many challenges persist in workplaces across the country. She noted that women continue to face pay disparities, workplace harassment, limited opportunities for promotion and other forms of discrimination.
“As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we must ask ourselves how much we have achieved. There are still pay gaps, there is still violence in the world of work, and women are still denied promotions,” she said.
According to her, many women are also deprived of justice when their rights are violated at work.
“When these rights are taken from us, sometimes justice is delayed, and sometimes it never comes,” she said.
Madam Kwashie, therefore, urged the government to fast-track the ratification of the convention to help create a working environment free from harassment and violence.
“We are calling on government to reactivate C-190 so that we can work in a world free of harassment and violence, where the pay gap is closed and where women can have decent jobs,” she added.
In her welcome address, the Upper East Regional Women’s Chairperson of TUC, Doris Asoalla, said the celebration served not only as a moment to celebrate women’s achievements but also as a call to action to advance gender equality. She emphasized the crucial role trade unions play in promoting fairness and protecting the rights of women workers.
“Trade unions must rise to the challenge by ensuring that women’s rights are not negotiable and that justice is accessible to all,” she said.
Madam Asoalla noted that women in workplaces across the country continue to face challenges such as unequal pay, limited opportunities, and harassment. She said that when trade unions prioritize gender equality, they contribute to building stronger workplaces and societies.
The Upper East Regional Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Scholastica Tagtir Dery, called on the government to also fast-track the ratification of ILO Convention 183. She said the ratification would ensure that working mothers benefit from at least 14 weeks of maternity leave in line with international labour standards.
The Upper East Regional Director of the Department of Children, Georgina Aberese-Ako, highlighted the role of trade unions in protecting women’s rights and promoting gender equality. She said unions can use collective bargaining and advocacy to promote fair wages, maternity protection, and safe working conditions for women.
“Every woman deserves to work in an environment that is safe, respectful, and free from intimidation or abuse,” she stated.
Ms. Aberese-Ako also stressed the need to support girls’ education and remove barriers that prevent them from fully participating in school, including lack of access to sanitary materials and harmful practices such as child marriage. She called on government, employers, civil society organizations and trade unions to collaborate in promoting gender equality and protecting the rights of women and girls.
Participants at the event emphasized that empowering women and protecting the rights of girls is essential for sustainable development and national progress. They urged stakeholders to translate commitments into concrete actions that will ensure equal opportunities, dignity and justice for women in the workplace and society at large.
A1 Radio | 101.1Mhz | Joshua Asaah | Bolgatanga
