Jotika Sharma, chair of the International Trade Union Congress (ITUC), is urging women to become involved in trade unions, emphasizing the significant impact they can have on improving working conditions for the working class. During a panel discussion at the Women’s Forum at the 2024 CHOGM in Samoa on Monday, Sharma shared her experiences of participating in a predominantly male trade movement, where she played a key role in establishing women’s committees within various unions in Fiji to advocate for change.
Sharma reflected on her motivations, stating, “I realized we need more women to support my efforts to bring about this change.” She explained that the formation of women’s committees in different unions was crucial for allowing women’s voices to be heard at the grassroots level, giving them a platform to influence discussions from the factory to the national level.
Despite the challenges of shifting traditional mindsets, particularly among men, she noted that progress has been made, although there is still work to be done in achieving full equality.