Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union
Some 50 women unionists from transport sectors across the world gathered in Singapore to share and exchange ideas on improving workplace welfare and the employment of the women workforce in global transportation. The two-day meeting was organised by the Women’s Committee from the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) on 5-6 December 2011 and saw representatives from more than 25 countries.
In her message as Guest-of-Honour at the opening, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports Madam Halimah Yacob shared the progress Singapore has made in creating gender equality at the workplace and also in getting women back into the workforce.
She said: “The women’s labour force participation in almost all countries has increased, and there has been an increasing trend of women taking up leadership roles especially in Europe where some countries have introduced quotas to place more women on company boards.”
In her dialogue with the international women, Mdm Halimah also shared the challenges women face in trying to balance between family and work life, sharing her experiences as a working mother. She cited the initiatives started by the NTUC Women’s Development Secretariat (WDS), saying that the Programme facilitated Singapore's women re-entry into the workforce in conjunction with skills acquisition so that women can enjoy greater job and income stability.
The Women Transport Workers’ Coordinator Ms Alison McGarry said: “We were delighted by the invitation from our Executive Board member Sister Mary Liew to hold the ITF Women's Committee meeting in Singapore - the very first meeting in Asia. It is a learning experience for our sisters and enabled us to meet local women unionists and also brothers from the ITF affiliated unions.
“The minister (Mdm Halimah Yacob) impressed the committee members with her understanding of the difficulties facing women workers, from the lack of affordable childcare to violence in the workplace, and we appreciate her ongoing commitment to support women's rights.”
Currently, the NTUC WDS has co-operated with 320 companies to help employ some 7,500 women in jobs under the Flexi-Works Funding programme. With the extension of paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 16 weeks and paid childcare leave of six days, women can better handle work and family commitments.
Mdm Halimah emphasised: “Through strong partnerships among the people, private and public sectors, women can be fully supported to reach their fullest potential in an environment which helps individuals be the best that they can be.”
