Women’s precarious employment is having severe consequences for families and communities according to the outcome of a joint workshop organised by the European Metalworkers’ Federation and the IMF and hosted by IG Metall in March.
Women are disproportionately affected by the global financial crisis, as the first jobs to be cut are temporary and contract workers, jobs primarily held by women.
The workshop also heard how erosion of working conditions for precarious workers is having a severe impact on families.
Without permanent employment, women are less able to plan to have children, receive lower wages and are not able to take time off for illness or vacations.
For unions to be able to respond to the needs of women precarious workers, the workshop stressed that unions must ensure better representation of women in their structures and must put emphasis on women’s needs in collective bargaining negotiations.
Source: http://www.imfmetal.org/files/09070213584379/Metal_world_2_09.pdf
Comments