Women and Work

1
Women and Work

• WABA Global Forum 2
• 23-27 September 2002
• Arusha, Tanzania

2
Maternity Protection in Action- setting up
crèches at workplaces

• Main recommendations
• Community-based/workplace crèches can be located
  close to or within the place of work or near the
  home
• Use an integrated early childhood development
  (IECD) approach to child care which promotes
  optimum development of child
• Promote the development of appropriate crèches
  using natural/indigenous materials and
  community-based volunteers
• Train community-based volunteers in IECD skills
  to promote livelihood and development of new
  crèches

3
Maternity Protection in Action- setting up
crèches at workplaces cont.d

• Main recommendations
• Mobilise resources for crèches according to
  cost-sharing principle to reinforce community
  responsibility
• Orient leadership/human resource departments
  within workplaces on the benefits of providing
  crèches for their staff
• Ensure community participation in developing
  minimum standards for daycare/crèches in
  collaboration with relevant bodies (community
  leaders, paediatric associations, occupational
  health etc)

4
Maternity Protection Campaign (part 1 and 2)

• Main recommendations
• Sensitise and advocate for maternity protection
  at all levels, local to global (develop tools for
  this building on existing materials)
• Assess national and regional situations to
  determine the problem areas (e.g., informal
  sector, export processing zones)
• Nurture and develop regional networks to
  facilitate sharing of experiences, effective
  resource utilisation and maximisation of outputs

5
Maternity Protection Campaign (part 1 and 2)
cont.d

• Main recommendations
• Strengthen links between Trade Unions,
  associations of formal/informal workers and
  interest groups at national, regional and
  global levels
• Work with all stakeholders at national level to
  get country to ratify ILO C 183
• Strengthen capacity in countries to improve
  maternity protection laws and policies at all
  levels

6
Maternity Protection Campaign (part 1 and 2)
cont.d

• Main recommendations
• Urge the UN Agencies (UNICEF, WHO and ILO) to
  provide accelerated assistance to countries in
  their efforts to ratify and implement C 183, in
  accordance with the GSIYCF
• WWTF should create more links between GIMS/GIFS
  to integrate in the long term issues related to
• practical and informational support for working
  mothers
• increased involvement of fathers and parental
  leave
• Place greater emphasis that maternity protection
  is a societal issue and responsibility!