Transcript Women and Work

Women and Work
WABA Global Forum 2
23-27 September 2002
Arusha, Tanzania
Maternity Protection in Action- setting
up crèches at workplaces
Main recommendations:
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Community-based/workplace crèches can be located close
to or within the place of work or near the home
Use an integrated early childhood development (IECD)
approach to child care which promotes optimum
development of child
Promote the development of appropriate crèches using
natural/indigenous materials and community-based
volunteers
Train community-based volunteers in IECD skills to
promote livelihood and development of new crèches
Maternity Protection in Action- setting
up crèches at workplaces cont.d
Main recommendations:
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Mobilise resources for crèches according to cost-sharing
principle to reinforce community responsibility
Orient leadership/human resource departments within
workplaces on the benefits of providing crèches for their
staff
Ensure community participation in developing minimum
standards for daycare/crèches in collaboration with
relevant bodies (community leaders, paediatric
associations, occupational health etc)
Maternity Protection Campaign (part
1 and 2)
Main recommendations:
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Sensitise and advocate for maternity protection at all
levels, local to global (develop tools for this building on
existing materials)
Assess national and regional situations to determine the
problem areas (e.g., informal sector, export processing
zones)
Nurture and develop regional networks to facilitate
sharing of experiences, effective resource utilisation and
maximisation of outputs
Maternity Protection Campaign (part
1 and 2) cont.d
Main recommendations:
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Strengthen links between Trade Unions, associations of
formal/informal workers and “interest groups” at national,
regional and global levels
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Work with all stakeholders at national level to get country
to ratify ILO C 183
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Strengthen capacity in countries to improve maternity
protection laws and policies at all levels
Maternity Protection Campaign (part
1 and 2) cont.d
Main recommendations:
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Urge the UN Agencies (UNICEF, WHO and ILO) to provide
accelerated assistance to countries in their efforts to ratify and
implement C 183, in accordance with the GSIYCF
WWTF should create more links between GIMS/GIFS to integrate
in the long term issues related to:
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practical and informational support for working mothers
increased involvement of fathers and parental leave
Place greater emphasis that maternity protection is a societal
issue and responsibility!