Hosted by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) On Friday 7th March, 10-12 am At the Résidence Palace, Passage room

The IFJ and ITUC will host a discussion and press conference on women fighting for decent work around the world.

Today, women form 40% of total world employment. The basis for launching this two-year Decent Work, Decent Life for Women World Campaign is rooted in the multiple discriminatory policies and practices that confront women workers who:
still earn 12 to 60% less than what their male co-workers earn, even in occupations such as nursing and teaching; 
account for an increasing proportion (60%) of the world’s poor and working poor;
face higher unemployment rates than 10 years ago
are concentrated in low-paid, unprotected, temporary or casual work;
lack maternity protection rights and face violence and sexual harassment in or near the workplace.

As part of the launch the ITUC will release a report on the Gender Pay Gap http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/gap-1.pdf detailing wage disparities in 62 countries around the world.

Women trade unionists from 53 countries around the world, including in Belgium, aretaking part in the launch of this two-year Campaign on 7th March.

Panelists
Guy Ryder, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation
Pamela Morinière, Gender Programme Officer, International/European Federation of Journalists  
Rudy De Leeuw, Président, Fédération Generale des Travailleurs de Belgique, Algemeen Belgische vakverbond (FGTB-ABVV)
Anne Demelenne, General Secretary, FGTB-ABVV.
Luc Cortebeeck, President, Confédération des syndicats chrétiens de Belgique, (CSC) Ann Van Laer, National Secretary, CSC

Address : Résidence Palace, rue de la loi 155, 1040 Brussels
RSVP/media queries : Mathieu Debroux, ITUC: 02 22 40 204 Pamela Morinière, IFJ : 02 235 22 16