Female workers highlight menstruation, maternity, and menopause as crucial workplace issues.

The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) International Women’s Day Seminar 2024 was a resounding success as over 90 women participated and shared their voices on various issues that specifically impact women.

The seminar provided a safe space for women to freely ventilate on the three ‘M’s: menstruation, maternity, and menopause, as well as other relevant concerns.

The women raised important issues such as the need for flexibility in work schedules for women who are returning to work after childbirth, understanding for working women who may be experiencing menopausal symptoms, and the impact of menstrual cycles on their ability to concentrate at work.

The group proposed certain accommodations to make coping easier and more efficient.

The issues raised during the seminar follow closely on UNI Global Union’s focus on the three ‘M’s as a gendered approach to Occupational Safety and Health.

UNI’s Head of Equal Opportunities, Veronica Fernandez Mendez, emphasized that the three ‘M’s are still taboo subjects in many cultures and workplaces, yet they have a significant impact on the professional development of workers who experience them.

In addition to the discussions, the Seminar also featured presentations on “Economic Empowerment and Inclusivity” and “Accessibility to Advanced Healthcare as a Means of Accelerating Progress.”

The presentations encouraged a critical examination of UN Women’s 11 Hurdles for Women’s Equality by 2030 and advised women to avoid negative self-talk and engage in practices that would build self-worth.

Participants provided overwhelmingly positive feedback on the seminar, with some women stating that it was timely and informative, while others found it encouraging to be empowered among such a diverse group of women with different experiences.

The Union plans to use the worksheets generated from the sessions to inform actions that will address the concerns raised by women.

The ABWU has a long and proud history of empowering women and encouraging gender parity. This includes its advocacy for paid maternity leave, which is now enshrined in the nation’s constitution.

In earlier years, the Union adopted a progressive outlook by offering typing classes, along with Math and English courses, to women who later went on to find gainful employment in secretarial roles.

Today, the Union continues to facilitate scholarships in Industrial Relations, Human Resource Management, Occupational Safety Health and Hygiene, and other disciplines for members irrespective of gender.

By empowering members through training and education, the Union hopes to inspire more women to pursue positions of leadership so that they can have a more powerful voice in shaping institutions, the community, and the nation.

Furthermore, plans are in motion for a major Women’s Conference to be hosted by the Union later this year, which demonstrates their commitment to the empowerment of women in Antigua and Barbuda.