Hak-İş Trade Union Confederation held the 11th International Women's Work Meeting with the theme of ‘Unionism from a Women's Perspective’. Vice President Fuat Oktay also attended the program. In the program, it was requested to pave the way for women to participate more in working and social life.
OKTAY: “WE WANT TO HAVE FEMALE MANAGERS IN THE UNIONS”
Vice President Fuat Oktay, who took the floor in the program, stated that they are fighting for the employment of women in all areas of working life. Oktay said, “We want to see our women inclusive and as actors of employment policies in every field of working life. We believe that as women's participation in working life increases, our unionization rate will increase. We want more women managers in the management of our unions and confederations. As the government, we continue to work to create decent working conditions of humanely life.”
“WE CARRY OUT COMPREHENSIVE STUDY”
Stating that very serious legislative arrangements have been made to protect women’s rights and to eliminate discriminatory practices, “We have resolutely fought against this phenomenon, believing that violence, injustice and ill-treatment against women directly target people, and we continue to do so. We are also carrying out a comprehensive study to make our tools for combating violence against women stronger and more effective. We have reached the final stage of the works that will strengthen our struggle infrastructure. We think that this package will be put on the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) as soon as possible. On the other hand, we continue our efforts to strengthen women's participation in working life and their positions for our sustainable development move,” Oktay added.
ARSLAN: “OUR WOMEN GAVE GREAT BATTLES”
Mahmut Arslan, Chairman of Hak-İş Trade Union Confederation, one of the hosts of the program, reminding that women employees has worked intensively to gain the rights of themselves all over the world from past to present, he said, “At the end of the struggle of our women, it was decided by the United Nations (UN) to celebrate March 8 as International Working Women's Day. This is actually a commemoration, not a celebration. It is a challenge to the injustices and inequities experienced by our women. As ‘Hak-İş’, we will continue to struggle to move our future forward and to build a better life, with the light we receive from them, by remembering our women on this day.”
ZENGIN: “WE ARE A BIG AND STRONG FAMILY”
Stating that Hak-İş Trade Union Confederation never compromises on its unique and fair stance on women, ‘Hak-İş’ Women's Committee Chairwoman Fatma Zengin said in her speech, "Women union leaders from Hak-İş Trade Union Confederation, you were our dreams. Now you are our facts. Unionist women from ‘Hak-İş’ are one of the most important achievements of the Turkish trade union movement in this period. We congratulate you, on behalf of our president, our managers and our organization. I thank you. We are a big and strong family with you. Happy World labourer women's day."