Jotika Sharma, chair of the International Trade Union Congress (ITUC), is urging women to become involved in trade unions, highlighting their potential to significantly improve working conditions for the labor force. During a panel discussion at the Women’s Forum at the 2024 CHOGM in Samoa on Monday, Ms. Sharma shared her experiences in a male-dominated trade movement, where she initiated the formation of women’s work committees across various unions in Fiji to address and enhance working conditions.
“We need more women to support my vision for change,” Ms. Sharma stated. She explained that they began by establishing women’s committees within different unions in Fiji, enabling women to voice their concerns starting from the grassroots level—whether in factories or enterprises—as they progressed to national discussions.
Ms. Sharma acknowledged the challenges in changing existing mindsets, particularly among men, although she noted that progress has been made, stating, “We have not reached 100 percent in that regard yet.”