Training Programme for Women Trade Unionists 2001-2004

Background

The programme was initiated by the national trade union federation, GFWTU. GFWTU had hardly no female members when the programme started. The women in the Yemeni society as well as in the trade union movement was ignored and did not participated actively in the decision making process. The women could not sit in the same room as the men.

Purpose/objective

The objective is to increase women's participation in the trade unions by training female workers in women rights and basic trade union education. In addition analyse the problems women face as workers, work actively to increase the knowledge on women rights and elaborate strategies on how to increase the recruitment and participation of women in the trade union movement.

Methodology

We have used a number of methods to collect information about the project 'Training Programme for Women Trade Unionists (in this report referred to as 'the program'). The evaluation team has conducted interviews with persons directly involved in the program implementation as well as governmental, UN, NGO and diplomatic representatives that have helped us to understand the context in which the program is implemented. We have met participants in the training collectively as well as in smaller groups. A simple questionnaire was developed, and revised during the field visit, that provided us with some socio-economic data about the participants in the project. Meetings were held in Sana'a, Aden, Ibb and Dhamar.

Key findings

The overall findings of this evaluation suggests that the cooperation between the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions and the General Federation of Workers Trade Union in Yemen serves to provide the worker's movement in Yemen important support in their struggle towards workers' rights and women's participation.

The cooperation serves to strengthen GFWTU as one of the actors in Yemeni society providing women space to participate. Conservative political forces are gaining ground in Yemen to further marginalise women, not only in the labour market and in civil society institutions but also in society as a whole.

The Training for Women Trade Unionists has resulted in establishing an address for women seeking to engage in trade union activities. The Department for Women and Children' has been strengthened by the cooperation. Women departments have been established in both district chapters of the GFWTU and in the respective workers trade unions. Women report that they learn about the activities GFWTU by visits from GFWTU to the work places, from the media and some went to GFWTU offices directly to get information.

The cooperation has resulted in recruiting skilled and active women into GFWTU and women are elected into local worker's committees by a quota system. There are new and skilled women recruited as volunteers in GFWTU headquarter and in the district chapters that provides a basis for developing the work further. Women are elected as workers representatives in the local work committees and a quota system has been introduced for securing women participation in the upcoming election at the General Congress on May 2005 for the Central Council and in the Executive Board.

To ensure sustainability, financial accountability and control, as well as documentation for monitoring and evaluation, the cooperation will benefit from having clear agreements with regards to both yearly budgets and activity plans. The sustainability of the cooperation may be ensured by introducing some adjustments. These are related to the technical implementation of the programme.