Monday, March 03, 2008 Women's groups keep up fight for equal pay, safety at work
AFTER almost a century of fighting for equal treatment, women still suffer from discrimination, sexism and sexual harassment, an activist said.
“We are still struggling for better pay and better living conditions,” said Dr. Leny Ocasiones, spokesperson of Gabriela-Cebu.
Gabriela, People’s Globalization Awareness Initiative Network (PGain) and St. Theresa’s College organized a forum yesterday on the conditions of women workers, especially in export processing zones (EPZs).
In 1910, to mark the women’s struggle for freedom, March 8 was declared as International Women’s Day. It has since evolved into the Women’s Month every March.
An audio-visual presentation focused on the issues of women working in an EPZ in the National Capital Region.
Women workers complained they were paid less, treated like robots where they have to follow every order from the boss and sexually harassed, either through a touch or, more blatantly, with a kiss.
Some said they were forced to render overtime. If not, they could expect a memo or, worse, one month’s forced leave without pay.
After interviews with women, the presentation cut to a speech of President Arroyo promising to alleviate the fate of workers.
A member of the audience could not help but shout, “ZTE!”—alluding to the company that would have supplied a national broadband network that President Arroyo has cancelled, amid allegations of bribe-taking by her husband and allies.
About 90 percent of the EPZ workers are women, said Marivic Villanueva of the Gabriela National Women Workers Desk.
But even if they make up the majority, they are treated inferior to their male bosses.
One of the issues raised during the forum was whether men truly understand what equality means.
Lilia Estillore, the Department of Labor and Employment’s (Dole) 7 chief labor and employment officer, explained that some men think that equality means that women can hammer away like men do or stand as security guards like men.
“Women give birth. Men and women have different body systems,” said Estillore.
Estillore pointed to the Labor Code’s provision against women working late hours.
“We can cite them for violation or actually have them stop, but who will complain?” asked Estillore.
It is no secret that call centers, for example, provide work for thousands of Filipinos, both men and women.
Estillore admitted that the Labor Code is also outdated.
She also questioned advertisements for jobs that seek women who are “single and with pleasing personality.”
“That is discrimination. Unsa’y pasabot ana? Wala na lang labot ang mga tambok o tiguwang (What do they mean by that, they can’t hire those who are fat or old)?” (JGA)
