KALPANA DESAI: Port and Transport Union Organizer

HMS WOMEN’s VIRTUAL MEETING

HMS Women's Committee First Webinar held on 28th June 2020. It was organised by Ms.Champa Verma, Chairperson of National Women's Committee with support of Bro. Rakesh Kumar to discuss working women issues faced during Covid 19 Pandemic. In his Inaugural speech Bro. Harbhajan Singh, G.S. of HMS welcomed 70 organised and unorganized sector women participants from 22 States of India.

Sis. Kalpana Desai - Port Sector, Maharashtra state, Sis. Umeda Khatoon,- Anganwadi workers Jharkhand State, Sis. Reddy- Railway Sector Andhra Pradesh, Sis. Aruna Kumari-Construction Workers, Karnataka State, Sis.Razia & Sis.Manju- Port Sectors Kerala State, Sis. Bhavna Ben - Gujarat State, Sis.Kulwant Kaur -Punjab state, Sis.Hari Priya -Orissa State, Sis.Geeta Upreti - Madhya Pradesh state, Sis.Vijaya Dixit & Sis.Kanti Verma, Chattisgadh, Sis.Neha-Ajmer Division, Sis.Manjeet Ahluwalia, N.Delhi, Sis.Roopkaur - Chandigadh state, Sis.Seema Kaushik, Sis.Sanjyot Vadhavkar- Maharashtra & Sis.Christine Nathan - Ex ILO official.

Summary:

In the Organised and Unorganized sectors the COVID 19 pandemic impacted all workers but women workers conditions was especially bad! Domestic Violence cases rose during the lockdown, mental stress, job losses, insecurity, profession change, economic crises and financial crisis to add!!! Women are overburdened with domestic work and become victims of violence. Especially domestic workers lost 90% jobs, Migrant workers sufferer most in Mumbai, around 42% migrant workers returned to their home states, 80% women construction workers lost their job. In Garment factories no pay wages, no proper PPE, no social security all this factors create mental agony, AanganWadi, Asha workers, construction women workers are in bad shape, child labour, bonded labour problems in the some of state.

Suggestions

Organised sectors must extend their active support to unorganized sector workers As ILO said it's alarm to strengthen social security Jointly work to get ratify ILO C 190 Plan to sustain through various skill trainings, educations, campaigns Need to work together for a gender equal New Normal.