Subject: [fem-women2000 74] NGO Statement 27th Oct on Economic Empowerment/APWLD
From: lalamaziwa <lalamaziwa@jca.apc.org>
Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1999 23:42:23 +0900
Seq: 74

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN - PACIFIC NGO REPOSNSE
                                                          BY APWLD

The Pacific NGO organisations attending the Conference of Pacific Women:
Building an Asia-Pacific Consensus for the Beijing +5 review organized
by APWLD in Port Vila June 1998 have reviewed the commitments made by
the Pacific Island governments to the Beijing Platform of Action.
 
Consistent with your commitment, we call upon you to adopt the actions
outlined in the Port Vila Statement prepared by the following Pacific
NGO organisations: Catholic Women's League, CIWCC Punanga Tauturu Inc.,
Eastern Highlands Family Voice, Family Support Center, FIJI Women's
crisis Center, FIJI Women's Rights Movement, Federated States of
Micronesia National Women's Advisory Council, Mapusaga O Aiga, Pacific
Regional Human Rights Education Resource Team, Tuvalu National Council
of Women, Vanuatu National Council of Women, Vanuatu Human Rights
Education Association.

Pacific governments have not fully complied with the commitments under
strategic objectives F.1 - F.6

1. Women's participation in formal, paid labour has increased significantly,
especially in trade free zones.  This has given women increased
economic independence.
 
However, such increased participation has been marred by lack of
bargaining power, lower wages and inadequate working conditions. 
Pacific Island governments must address these manifestations of
discrimination against women in the workplace.
 
Governments are urged to ratify ILO Conventions 100 Equal Remuneration
and Convention 111 Discrimination (employment and occupation).
 
2. Pacific Island countries are affected by globalisation and are
undergoing structural adjustments and public sector reforms.  While the
reforms have incorporated gender components, there is a lack of
coordinated analysis initiated by governments on the impact of such
reforms on women.  In addition pacific Island governments have not taken
into account the interests of women in the drive for investment
 
3. Labour laws remain inadequate to correct discrimination against women
in the workplace.  Women are also not sufficiently aware of their
rights under existing laws.  While some Pacific governments have
undertaken legislative reforms to address equal pay for work of equal
value, minimum wage, child care facilities, maternity leave, job
security, sexual harassment in the workplace and legal recognition of
domestic, they have not committed sufficient resources to ensure
compliance with these existing legislation

4. Pacific women play significant roles in the informal and subsistence
sectors.  However, their contribution in these sectors has not been
recognised.  Pacific governments must formally recognise and incorporate
their contributions in these sectors in the national systems of
accounts.