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| May 6, 2006 | Saturday | Rabi-us-Sani 7, 1427 |
Women’s role stressed in development
HARIPUR, May 5: Speakers at a workshop on Friday said that unless women were encouraged to take active part in national life the goal of sustainable development in the country would remain unachievable.
The workshop entitled ‘Gender sensitisation among industrial workers’ was organised by the Directorate of Workers Education and attended by both male and female workers from the Hattar Industrial Estate (HIE).
Ms Fatima, coordinator (gender development) Sungi Foundation, spoke about various kinds of sexual harassment women faced at workplaces. Indecent remarks, non-verbal communication and overtures that scare a woman or cause to hinder her development are all forms of harassment, she said.
She asked female workers not to tolerate such behaviour out of fear of bad name, loss of job and other negative impacts, but stop the perpetrators at the initial stage with full courage.
Mohammad Sadaqat of the Human Development Organisation said that majority of women workers at HIE were paid small salaries in violation of the Minimum Wages Act. They were made to overwork and were not paid for public holidays, he said.
Quoting a research study on the working conditions of women at HIE, he said female workers had to face sexual harassment at the hands of their male colleagues, seniors and aliens while coming to and fro their workplaces.
He said Articles 34 of the Constitution provides that the women should be encouraged to take part in national life.
Sheikh Javed Iqbal said the condition of labour community at Hattar was pathetic.
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