The Gender Center for Empowering Development (GenCED) is set to organise a National Dialogue on December 12 at the Holiday Clinic, Accra. The them for the dialogue is: “Labor laws. Women’s Right at the Work Place”.
Speaking on GBC’s Uniiq FM Breakfast Show, the executive Director of GenCED, Esther Tawia said most women get fired at work, denied job interviews because they are pregnant. The Dialogue is to deal with issues of women who are going through abuse at the work place and educate them about their rights at the work place and the appropriate place to go to seek for help.
She noted that though labour laws enshrined in the 1992 constitution specifically protects women, its practice at the work place both at the State and public institutions contradict what has been laid down.
“The fire service incidence is a clear example. This is a state institution but they sacked three women because they got pregnant whilst in service. They were asked not to get pregnant for the first and two years of their employment. The organisation sees it to be a mistake for them to get pregnant so they were fired. People should not treat pregnancy as a sickness. If someone comes to your organisation and she is pregnant, there is nothing wrong. Nothing has happened to her intellect and capabilities. It is what she brings on board that you are interested not her pregnancy,” she said.
She added that Institutions like the CHIRAJ, Labor commission, Trade Union Congress and people from the Northern region will be present at the dialogue including individuals who are victims of labour laws practice at the work place.
“Women’s right are also human right and needs to be respected no matter what,” she concluded.
GenCED, established in May, 2011, is a not for profit advocacy organisation aimed at empowering women and youth for sustainable development in our communities.
Story by: Mavis Arthur.
