The National Union for Domestic Employees (Nude) is calling for ratification of ILO convention 189 and housing for single mothers.Scores of men and women thronged the streets of Arima yesterday to commemorate International Women's Day and support Nude's call.Ida Le Blanc, the union's secretary general led the march and also called for an increase in the minimum wage to $20.
Le Blanc was accompanied by UWI's Institute for Gender and Development Studies lecturer Dr Gabrielle Hosein, as well as Network of NGOs for the Advancement of Women's coordinator Hazel Brown, former PNM MP Penelope Beckles, Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU) general secretary Ancel Roget among others during the march. The group said Labour Minister Errol Mcleod had promised three years ago, at an ILO convention in Geneva, to ratify the convention but nothing has been done since.
During the march which began at Sorzano Street and ended at Arima Velodrome, Le Blanc said ratification of ILO convention 189 would grant domestic workers the similar rights as other workers. This, Le Blanc, said would assist in eradicating poverty. Many women, she added, worked 60 hours week and were paid for only 40 hours.She called on women in power to bridge the gap between rich and poor women.
Prof of Gender, Social Change and Development Rhoda Reddock said while she was pleased with the many commemorations for International Women's Day around the country, she wanted it sustained throughout the year. She said there was still a number of issues that needed urgent attention such as the national gender policy. T&T, she said, was one of the few countries that did not have a national gender policy.
She said issues such as supporting parents who work full time and raise children should be looked at and called for daycare centers at workplace, child centres in industrial estates, opportunities for breast feeding at the workplace to ensure children received the best nourishment. She also called for gender and sexuality training at schools, teachers' colleges among others.