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<div class="doctitle"><a href="#practical">Click here for general practical information</a></div>
<div class="content">
<img height="113" alt="" src="" width="100" /> 

Provisional Programme for the Fourth ICEM World Congress
Saturday 17 November 2007&nbsp; 
10.00 &ndash; 17.00 <a href="/en/?id=184&amp;doc=2429&amp;la=EN">Women&rsquo;s Conference 
</a> 
Sunday 18 November 2007 
09.30 &ndash; 17.00 <a href="/en/?id=184&amp;doc=2429&amp;la=EN">Women&rsquo;s Conference</a> 
 
Monday 19 November 2007&nbsp; 
09.00 &ndash; 17.30 Presidium 
19:00 Dinner for ICEM Presidium Members and accompanying persons 
 
Tuesday 20 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
09:00 - 17:00 Executive Committee Meeting 
19.00 Dinner for ICEM Executive Committee Members and accompanying persons 
 
Wednesday 21 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
09:00 - 17:00 <a href="/en/?id=184&amp;doc=2428&amp;la=EN">Contract and Agency Labour Conference</a> 
10:00 -&nbsp;16:00 <a href="/en/?id=184&amp;doc=2441&amp;la=EN">Meeting of the ICEM Pulp and Paper Section</a> 
17.00+ Meeting of Congress Credentials Committee 
 
Thursday 22 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
10.00 Opening of Congress 
12:00 WFIW Integration 
17.30 Congress Sessions close 
19.00 Dinner 
 
Friday 23 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
09:00 Congress Sessions continue 
17:30 Congress Sessions close 
19.00 Dinner 
 
Saturday 24 November 2007&nbsp;&nbsp; 
09:00 Final Congress Sessions 
14:00 Congress Closure 
15:00-17:00 New ICEM Presidium meets 
<img height="29" alt="" src="" width="25" align="absMiddle" />&nbsp; <a href="/en/?id=184&amp;doc=2430&amp;la=EN">Click here for a more detailed Draft Congress Agenda 
(22-24 November)</a>&nbsp; <img height="29" alt="" src="" width="25" align="absMiddle" /> 
 
Departure of Delegations
 
<img height="113" alt="" src="" width="100" /><a name="practical"></a>
4th ICEM World Congress - 2007 
Practical general information 

</div>


1. Congress Venue 
 
Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre 
60 New Rachadapisek Road, Kongtoey 
Bangkok 10110 
Thailand 
Tel: +66/2229-3000 
Fax: +66/2229-3392 
Website: <a href="http://www.qsncc.com">www.qsncc.com</a> 
2. Timetable 
Congress Registration will be every day, from Monday 19 November until Wednesday 21 November, from 08:00 to 17.00. Last minute Congress Registration will be on Thursday 22 November, from 08:00 to 10:00.
3. Transportation during congress 
 
A skytrain and a metro line are disserving the congress venue from all hotels block booked by the ICEM for the congress. The ICEM will provide tickets for delegates during the 3 days of Congress (22, 23 and 24 November). Those tickets will be available on site upon registration.
4. Social Activities 
 
Thursday 22 November &ndash; a dinner will be organised for congress delegates and accompanying persons. The information on the venue and other arrangements will be distributed at the time of the congress. 
 
Friday 23 November &ndash; a gala dinner will be organised for congress delegates and accompanying persons. The venue for the dinner will be the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. Further information on the arrangements will be distributed at the time of the congress. 
5. Tourism Information 
 
An information desk with tourism info, including&nbsp;on tours will be available on the congress site. 
6. Currency 
 
The Monetary unity of Thailand is the baht (THB). 
Exchange rate in early 2007 is: 1&euro; = +/- 44 THB. 
There is no black market. Changing Euros can be done, without any problems, everywhere, even in traveller&rsquo;s checks. For European countries, it is not necessary to bring dollars. 
7. Climate in Thailand 
Thailand's climate is tropical, high both in temperature and humidity, and dominated by monsoons. From November to the end of February the climate is much less trying with a cooling North East breeze and a reduction in the humidity level. This is also the main tourist season, and the best time to visit Thailand. 
The north and north-east are generally cooler than Bangkok in winter and hotter in summer. In the far north, around Mae Hong Son temperatures can occasionally drop as low as 20C. 
8. Time 
 
The standard time zone for Bangkok is GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) + 7 hours. 
9. Visa for Thailand 
 
Visa on Arrival: 
 
- According to the Interior Ministerial Announcements, passport holders from 20 countries may apply for visas at the immigration checkpoints for the purpose of tourism for the period of not exceeding 15 days. 
 
- The applicant must possess means of living expenses at the amount of 10,000 Baht per person and 20,000 Baht per family accordingly. 
 
- The applicant must present full paid ticket which is usable within 15 days since the date of entry 
 
- Visa on arrival is provided at 32 designated international checkpoints and applicants should submit the application form duly filled out and to which his/her recent photograph (4 x 6 cm) is attached. The application fee is 1,000 Baht. 
 
- Visitors who enter the Kingdom with Visa on Arrival generally cannot file an application for extension of stay except in special cases such as illness which prevents them from travelling, etc. They can submit an application at the Office of Immigration Bureau, Immigration Division 1, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120. Tel. 02 287-3127 or 02 287-3101-10 ext. 2264-5 or at website <a href="http://www.immigration.go.th">http://www.immigration.go.th</a>. 
The list of 20 countries is as follows: 
 
1. Bhutan 
2. China 
3. Cyprus 
4. Czech Republic 
5. Estonia 
6. Hungary 
7. India 
8. Kazakhstan 
9. Latvia 
10. Liechtenstein 
11. Lithuania 
12. Maldives 
13. Mauritius 
14. Sultanate of Oman 
15. Poland 
16. Russia 
17. Saudi Arabia 
18. Slovakia 
19. Slovenia 
20. Ukraine 
 
Further information can be found on the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kingdom of Thailand: <a href="http://www.mfa.gov.th">www.mfa.gov.th</a>.
Visa not needed for the following countries: 
1. Australia 
2. Austria 
3. Belgium 
4. Brazil 
5. Bahrain 
6. Brunei 
7. Canada 
8. Denmark 
9. Finland 
10. France 
11. Germany 
12. Greece 
13. Hong Kong 
14. Iceland 
15. Indonesia 
16. Ireland 
17. Israel 
18. Italy 
19. Japan 
20. Korea 
21. Kuwait 
22. Luxembourg 
23. Malaysia 
24. Netherlands 
25. New Zealand 
26. Norway 
27. Oman 
28. Peru 
29. Philippines 
30. Portugal 
31. Qatar 
32. Singapore 
33. Spain 
34. South &Aacute;frica 
35. Sweden 
36. Switzerland 
37. Turkey 
38. United Arab Emirates 
39. United Kingdom 
40. USA 
41. Vietnam 
10. Vaccination &ndash; Yellow Fever Certificate 
 
List of countries which are declared YELLOW FEVER INFECTED AREAS: 
 
- The Ministry of Public Health has issued regulations that applicants who have travelled from or through the countries which have been declared Yellow Fever Infected Areas must provide an International Health Certificate proving that they have received a Yellow Fever vaccination. 
 
- The International Health Certificate must be submitted together with the visa application form. The traveller will also have to present the said certificate to the Immigration Officer upon arrival at the port of entry in the Kingdom. As for those nationals of the countries listed below but who have not travelled from/through those countries, such a certificate is not required. However, they should possess concrete evidence showing that their domicile is not in an infected area so as to prevent unnecessary inconvenience. 
 
1. Angola 
2. Benin 
3. Bolivia 
4. Brazil 
5. Burkina Faso 
6. Burundi 
7. Cameroon 
8. Central Africa 
9. Chad 
10. Colombia 
11. Democratic Republic of Congo 
12. Congo 
13. Ivory Coast 
14. Ecuador 
15. Equatorial Guinea 
16. Ethiopia 
17. French-Guiana 
18. Gabon 
19. G&acirc;mbia 
20. Ghana 
21. Guinea-Bissau 
22. Guinea 
23. Guyana 
24. Kenya 
25. Lib&eacute;ria 
26. Mali 
27. Maurit&acirc;nia 
28. Niger 
29. Nigeria 
30. Panam&aacute; 
31. Peru 
32. Rwanda 
33. S&atilde;o Tome &amp; Pr&iacute;ncipe 
34. Senegal 
35. Sierra Leone 
36. Somalia 
37. Sudan 
38. Suriname 
39. Tanzania 
40. Togo 
41. Trinidad and Tobago 
42. Uganda 
43. Venezuela 
 
Further information can be found on the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kingdom of Thailand: <a href="http://www.mfa.gov.th">www.mfa.gov.th</a>.

4th ICEM World Congress - Agenda and Practical general information

ICEM WOMEN’S BULLETIN 23

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With private equity funds in 2006 going on unprecedented buying sprees totaling US$725 billion, the International Union of Food and Agricultural Workers (IUF) has published a 36-page booklet entitled &ldquo;Workers&rsquo; Guide to Private Equity.&rdquo; 

The booklet is aimed at trade unions and their members, and highlights the threat of private equity companies when they take over companies. The IUF says the heavy debt loads that companies often carry following such buy-outs means they pay less in taxes, thus creating a more increased tax burden for individuals and small businesses. 
<img height="112" src="" width="110" alt="" />
The IUF also says cost-slashing following takeovers by private equity funds means that research and development budgets of major companies are cut, so new product innovations go by the wayside. The sole corporate investment strategy by such funds is maximum short-term financial returns to shareholders. 
&ldquo;Workers&rsquo; Guide to Private Equity&rdquo; includes chapters on the Impact to Unions and Undercutting the Public Interest. It also contains two &ldquo;Trade Union Action&rdquo; programmes, one on the &ldquo;organising challenge,&rdquo; the other entitled &ldquo;mobilising and intervening for re-registration.&rdquo; The booklet, in its appendix, lists the top 50 private equity buy-out funds. It also contains an IUF Public Equity Buyout Watch. 
A&nbsp;PDF version of the booklet can be viewed <a href="http://www.iufdocuments.org/www/documents/A%20Worker's%20Guide%20to%20Private%20Equity-e.pdf">here</a>.&nbsp; The IUF is selling the booklet for CHF 5 each (plus postage), or for CHF 3 (plus postage) each for bulk copies of ten or more. 
The IUF also has a part of its web-site decidated to the private equity problem: <a href="http://www.iuf.org/buyoutwatch">http://www.iuf.org/buyoutwatch</a>.

IUF Offers ‘Workers’ Guide to Private Equity’

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The Federation of Energy, Geology, and Mining Trade Unions of Mongolia held its Fourth Extraordinary Conference in Ulaanbaatar late in May, and elected a new President for the 15,000-member union. 
Ganbold Sukhbaatar, a mining engineer, was elected to succeed Chultem Baljinyam. Ganbold is a 15-year veteran of the mining industry, and has been active in elected positions in trade unions for the past ten years.

Mongolian Mining Union Federation Elects New President

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ICEM affiliate, the United Electrical, Radio, Machine Workers of America (UE), and the IUE-CWA reached tentative four-year agreements with General Electric Co. (GE) yesterday. 
 
The tentative pact, covering over 14,000 workers, will now be reviewed by the two unions&rsquo; conference boards, and then put to ratification votes of all workers by 28 June. A prior labour agreement in the US at GE plants expired at midnight, last night. 
 
The tentative accord reached yesterday includes significant improvements in wages, pensions, and benefits. It also contains agreement to accelerate joint efforts between GE and the unions to address the difficult and costly health care system in America. The unions also won a new holiday in talks, Veterans Day (also known as Armistice Day) in November. 
<img height="110" src="" width="250" alt="" />
&ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s an agreement our members will recognise as a good one,&rdquo; stated UE General President John Hovis. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m especially pleased with the provisions that affect (less senior) people at the locations we represent.&rdquo; Both the UE and the IUE-CWA are recommending the tentative contract for approval to their members. 
 
Terms of this accord will now be offered to US-based unions covering another 6,000 GE workers at their locations.

US Union Reach Tentative Contract with General Electric

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The jobs crisis in the paper and wood sectors of Canada has taken further hard blows. Early this month, Finnish pulp and paper company UPM Kymmene announced a temporary 9-to-12 month closure of its paper and groundwood mills in Miramichi, New Brunswick, thus idling 600 workers. 
 
That came just a week after US-based Weyerhaeuser Co. officially announced, on 31 May, the permanent closure of a wood mill in the same town. The closing will cost 150 jobs. Workers at both mills are represented by ICEM affiliate Communications, Energy, Paperworkers (CEP) Union of Canada. 
<img height="99" src="" width="100" alt="" />
While meeting with company officials of UPM Kymmene in Miramichi on 8 June, CEP local union leaders left the meeting not very hopeful. They were told that the odds of re-starting the mill next year stand at only 20% unless investments are made. 
 
Speaking at the New Brunswick Federation of Labour&rsquo;s convention in Edmunston on the day that UPM broke the news, 5 June, CEP President Dave Coles said, &ldquo;These communities are a microcosm of what is going on in more than four dozen communities (across Canada).&rdquo; He said that over the past three years, more than 12,000 pulp, paper, and sawmill workers have lost their jobs in Canada. 
 
What makes matters worst for mill workers, particularly at UPM, is that the Finnish company continues to cut and export raw logs off government forestlands through three leases it holds in the province of New Brunswick. CEP local leaders were told at the 5 June meeting that the company was going to do trial shipments of wood to Finland, something CEP and community leaders oppose while the paper mill is idle. 
<img height="115" src="" width="250" alt="" />
&ldquo;Employers, especially in the forestry sector, have deliberately taken the money they have earned from our publicly-owned natural resources and invested it elsewhere in the world,&rdquo; stated Coles at the provincial labour convention. 
 
The recent bad news hasn&rsquo;t been limited to New Brunswick. On 15 June, forestry company Tembec Inc. announced it was temporarily shutting three wood mills in Quebec and one in Ontario, affecting nearly 900 workers. 
 
That came a day after Commonwealth Plywood announced the closure of 18 mills in Quebec, six of which find workers represented by the CEP. The Commonwealth closures will mean the loss of 1,200 jobs. 
 
The CEP has pressed the federal government of Canada for intervention in the jobs crisis of the nation&rsquo;s forestry sector.

Forest Sector Jobs Continue to Drop in Wake of Eastern Canada Mills Closings

<img height="40" src="" width="100" alt="" />
After 18 months of negotiations and consultations, workers UK&rsquo;s ICEM affiliate Unite &ndash; the merged union of Amicus and Transport and General Workers Union &ndash; ratified a national agreement on behalf of 3,000 workers in the paper manufacturing industry. 
 
The new accord comes under a framework &ldquo;Partnership Agreement&rdquo; put in place earlier this year between the two unions and UK&rsquo;s GMB trade union, and the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI), an employers&rsquo; association of pulp, paper, and converting companies. 
 
&ldquo;I believe this new agreement raises the employment standards for workers in the paper manufacturing industry,&rdquo; said Unite (Amicus section) National Officer Peter Ellis. &ldquo;It reaffirms the commitment of Unite members and those conforming companies of the CPI Paper Sector to a modern and sustainable approach to good industrial relations, so necessary for the security of our members&rsquo; jobs in a stable business environment.&rdquo; 
<img height="203" src="" width="200" alt="" />
The agreement includes significant language regarding temporary and agency work, model information and consultation language, extra personal time, an expanded industry sick pay benefit, up to ten days&rsquo; pay for paternity leave, and up to five days&rsquo; bereavement leave pay. 
 
Unite, the CPI, and the UK&rsquo;s Department of Trade and Industry will formally launch the agreement in the days ahead as part of the new &ldquo;Partnership Agreement,&rdquo; which has as its motto, &ldquo;Work Together, Grow Together, Stay Together.&rdquo;

Paperworkers of UK’s Unite Ratify Partnership Accord with Industry Association

<img height="40" alt="" src="" width="100" />
The revamped ICEM International Nuclear Workers&rsquo; Unions Network (INWUN) held its annual meeting on 13-14 June, and some 26 nuclear workers&rsquo; union leaders from ten countries attended. The meeting were held at ICEM headquarters in Brussels. The meeting was the first nuclear network meeting since INWUN became an official ICEM network. 
 
David Shier of the Power Workers Union of Canada was elected as chairman of the network, and delegates also adopted an 11-point &ldquo;Terms of Reference&rdquo; for the network, which will stand as guidelines for the network. 
<img height="211" alt="" src="" width="380" />
ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda, ICEM Energy Industries Chairman Lars Myhre and David Shier, Chairman of the ICEM INWUN Network
Those include promoting solidarity and cooperation with trade union worldwide, as well as supporting a balanced energy generation policy across all jurisdictions. Objectives also include promotion of effective and thorough national regulatory procedures and practices in the nuclear industry, and seek to ensure that some eight nuclear regulatory agencies and governmental entities are kept informed of the viewpoints of unionised nuclear workers. 
Delegates to the 13-14 June meeting heard a presentation from Hans Riotte, head of Radiation Protection and Waste Management of the Nuclear Energy Agency, which is part of the OECD. They also had a lively exchange on nuclear safety programmes within the various countries represented. Work conditions in those countries were also debated. 
<img height="185" alt="" src="" width="380" />
They also heard a presentation on women in the nuclear industry. ICEM General Secretary Manfred Warda and ICEM Energy Industries Chairman Lars Myhre of Norway&rsquo;s Industri Energi Union addressed the delegates. 
 
Countries from which trade unionists attended included: Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine, and the UK.

ICEM’s Nuclear Workers’ Network Meets in Brussels

<img height="38" src="" width="30" alt="" />
Contents
1. Indonesia &ndash; ICEM A/P Women&rsquo;s Committee Meets 
2. South Africa &ndash; African Regional Women&rsquo;s Conference Meets in Johannesburg 
3. Egypt &ndash; Egypt Bans Female Circumcision 
4. Finland &ndash; The Gender Pay Gap Has Narrowed in Industry 
5. SEWA in India Pursues Solar Alternatives 
6. Kuwait &ndash; Women Are Not Allowed to Work at Night 
7. Sierra Leone &ndash; Domestic Violence Is Outlawed 
8. Thailand &ndash; New Anti-Rape Law Passed 
9. Uganda &ndash; Law Curbs Effects of Polygamy 
10. Uruguay &ndash; National Equal Opportunities Plan Is Launched 
 
11. Resources 
<img height="38" src="" width="30" alt="" />
1. Indonesia &ndash; ICEM A/P Women&rsquo;s Committee Meets 
 
The ICEM&rsquo;s Asia-Pacific Women&rsquo;s Committee met on 17 June in Jakarta, Indonesia, with the generous support of ICEM-JAF. ICEM welcomed three new affiliates from Indonesia, FARKES, KEP and KSBSI, and the many women that they organise. Most of the women at the meeting were from unions that organise the pharmaceuticals industries, reinforcing the trend that we have observed in the past. 
 
The Japanese delegation from UI Zensen, Karoken, Denryokusoren, Osaka Gas, and ICEM-JAF made a presentation on work-life balance. The Tokyo Electric Power Company, the company that generates 30% of electric power in Japan, set up diversity programme in 2006 in order to make the most of the diverse human resources in the company. The aim was to improve the working conditions and working environment in collaboration with management. on Gender Issues, ageing issues, handicapped issues, which should not keep people from working. This programme has meant that more women are retained. 
 
Women are entitled to six weeks before and eight weeks after childbirth at 100% pay. Childcare leave is possible, until the child turns 3. Pregnant women can have reduction of work time or workload, if they produce a doctor&rsquo;s certificate. 
 
More and more women are technicians and engineers, which involves work on top of power lines; working in radiation areas; or work underground, as well as supervising night work. With more women in these jobs, their needs are do get listened to. Currently, companies are cutting the workforce to cut costs, which often leads to longer work time for the workers who remain. Working long hours is not only a problem for work-life balance but also for heart disease and depression. Reducing working time is one major demand. 
 
In the Meiji Seika food and pharmaceuticals company, men also get full salary when they take childcare leave. Whatever is not paid by the government, is paid by the company. Men are also protected, so that both partners may have work-life balance. Not everyone is aware, however, of exactly what is provided. A lunchtime working group meets to advise those who may want to take advantage of the system. 
 
The three problem areas presented were getting agreement from the boss, getting back to work after leave, and getting agreement from colleagues. A guidebook has been published and distributed. Management organized a seminar for managers to acquaint them with the system, and then a joint committee was created. 
 
Karoken has produced case studies on maternity protection. Takeda Pharmaceuticals has four nursing rooms in four large Takeda sites. These are used for those women who are unable to take childcare leave because of their own work. 
 
Women must be included in committees involving working conditions, to help determine their own standards. There is a system for reducing work time (it can be reduced by one hour until the child starts primary school) but the salary is cut proportionately. Morning sickness leave is possible with 100% wage guarantee. 
 
Currently Takeda is recruiting more women. Flexibility in the system will likely lead to more men taking advantage of leave more often. 
 
Osaka Gas has set up a joint union-management committee on work-life balance made up of women and men. A booklet has been published to support work-life balance, especially regarding childcare. There is a support system for women returning from maternity leave. 
 
There must be contact between the worker and the employer during the leave, and women can be out on leave for three years. The father is also entitled to certain things. People on leave can have a PC loaned to them by the company with pertinent information so that they can work at home. 
 
In Japan, the Law to Support the Next Generation was passed to combat the ageing society and to encourage childbirth. The Welfare Labour Ministry provides certifications for action programmes, which cover children from the age of three until the start of primary school. The reduction of workload is also included. Working hours can be reduced until the child reaches third grade. The certification is granted to companies which reduce overtime, promote workers&rsquo; ability to take leave, and generally improve working conditions. 
 
In Japan, there is the problem in the reduction of permanent women&rsquo;s jobs. Young, male workers are also losing permanent jobs. Maternity issues &ndash; pregnancy, child delivery and childcare &ndash; are an obstacle to women working full time. If the company has a union, mothers can more easily continue to work after childbirth; small companies have a problem. Only 30% of mothers continue to work after childbirth in Japan. 
 
In conclusion, it was reaffirmed that maternity is a social function and must be seen as such. Maternity leave must be paid by social security. Women must get involved in politics and get politicians to improve laws, starting with ratifying ILO Convention 183 on Maternity Protection. 
 
Preparations continued for the Women&rsquo;s World Conference scheduled for 17-18 November 2007 in Bangkok, just prior to the ICEM Congress. The theme of the conference is Women &ndash; Work &ndash; 21st century. Burmese refugees and the Deputy Executive Director of the Thailand Government Pharmaceuticals Organisation (GPO) will speak to the conference. The first block will have peace as the theme and will contemplate Colombia, Nepal, Palestine, Iraq and Burma. Otherwise the conference will concern itself with employment issues, proposals for Congress and elections. Please Register for the Conference at your earliest convenience. 
 
The A/P women&rsquo;s committee proposed some amendments to the Congress motions on HIV/AIDS, contract and agency labour, and social dialogue. The Thai group proposed promoting a campaign on compulsory licensing. The reason is that housewives are the main focus of new HIV infections due to contamination from their husbands. But since they have less income than their husbands, they are less able to afford expensive drugs. Migrant workers, many of whom are women, also need more protection against HIV/AIDS. 
 
A Congress motion on women should indicate that ICEM strives for gender balance in all bodies. 
 
The committee elected, and the regional conference endorsed, the election of a woman from Thailand and a substitute from Japan to join the ICEM Executive Committee after the November 2007 Congress. 
<img height="38" src="" width="30" alt="" />
2. South Africa &ndash; African Regional Women&rsquo;s Conference Meets in Johannesburg 
 
The ICEM African Regional Women&rsquo;s Conference was held on 2 July in Johannesburg to prepare women&rsquo;s positions for the regional conference to be held the next day in Botswana, which followed by a few days. ICEM received sponsorship from a number of companies for the conference. 
 
In 2003, the women&rsquo;s conference set the main task of establishing the ICEM African women&rsquo;s committee. The goal was met. From now on, it will be a question of organizing activities to make real progress for African women in ICEM. 
 
ICEM has been running the shop steward development programme for some years now in Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. This programme has a women&rsquo;s component. The women&rsquo;s programme creates awareness of women&rsquo;s issues to make sure that leadership is developed. Since women are not always in the leadership structure, their issues are not always addressed. Women&rsquo;s health issues are one area that is often neglected. 
 
Employers tendency is to think of workers as male. Pregnant women have particular issues, but all women&rsquo;s issues are also very diverse than just maternity issues; health issues also encompass menstruation and menopause. Unions should negotiate for rest areas at work so that women can rest on the job instead of staying home. Employers expect women to adapt to the workplace instead of the other way around. 
 
Women in mining is a major topic in Africa. Some legislation denies women the right to work underground, but mining is a well-paid job. Still women need protections. Women need to learn to challenge things, not only at the workplace but at all levels. Women must be able to participate actively. They should not take positions at all costs if they are not prepared; they have to be able to deliver. Ultimately women must come into the mainstream to make the union strong. Role models are important, since those starting out should be able to look up to women who do have experience. 
 
ICEM affiliate National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) presented a resolution on the gender dynamics in HIV/AIDS. Women need to be empowered to take control in terms of condom use. Women in marriage negotiate on condoms without success. We must explore how best women can take control. 
 
The meeting decided to focus on the following topics in the coming years: HIV/AIDS and women workers; health and safety; leadership skills; expansion of projects to other countries; accountability; and reporting/information sharing. The next step will be for the women&rsquo;s committee to draft a charter for working women in Africa. This work will entail examining national legislations, constitutions, terms and conditions at work, collective agreements and ILO conventions. 
 
The conference elected Baru Gaithoboge from the Botswana Diamond Sorters and Valuators&rsquo; Union to chair the women&rsquo;s committee, and Oluchi Okorie from NUPENG, Nigeria, as vice-chair. They will be the ICEM Executive Committee member and substitute, respectively.
<img height="38" src="" width="30" alt="" />
3. Egypt &ndash; Egypt Bans Female Circumcision 
 
In June, a ban on female circumcision was announced to outlaw the practice, also known as genital mutilation, in Egypt, a country where some 90% of Egyptian women are subjected to the practice. The decree says no professionals will be allowed to perform this operation any more, and violators will be punished. 
 
Female circumcision is a flagrant example of physical and psychological violence against girl children. Muslim and Christian authorities have stated that the practice has no basis either in the Koran or the Koran. Circumcision is seen by conservatives as a way to protect women&rsquo;s chastity. The practice is still common in many African countries.
<img height="38" src="" width="30" alt="" />
4. Finland &ndash; The Gender Pay Gap Has Narrowed in Industry 
 
 
In the fourth quarter of 2006, the average wages of women in Finnish industry were 85% than those of men. In the second quarter 2002, the corresponding figure was 80%.
<img height="38" src="" width="30" alt="" />
&nbsp;5. SEWA in India Pursues Solar Alternatives 

The SEWA Bank and the SEWA Academy, part of the Self-Employed Women&rsquo;s Association in India, promoted an energy park for women to make the most of solar energy and biogas. Solar power and bio gas are of tremendous use to the self-employed. Women street vendors can use solar powered lamps to continue selling into the night and boost their revenues. Midwives can use specially designed lamps to deliver in homes without electricity. Solar lamps in homes can help children study and achieve better in school. Garment workers use solar energy to run sewing machines. Women have installed smokeless stoves. In addition to helping the women earn better livelihoods, there is no pollution with solar energy. SEWA hopes women will adopt solar energy on a large scale.
<img height="38" src="" width="30" alt="" />
&nbsp;6. Kuwait &ndash; Women Are Not Allowed to Work at Night 
 
Gulf News reported that the Kuwaiti Parliament has banned women from working at night. The new law prohibits women from working between 8 pm and 7 am outside the medical profession. Nor are women allowed to work in jobs that &ldquo;break public morals and in all-men service places at any time.&rdquo;
<img height="38" src="" width="30" alt="" />
&nbsp; 
7. Sierra Leone &ndash; Domestic Violence Is Outlawed 
 
The parliament in Sierra Leone passed a law to ban all domestic violence, and to guarantee women&rsquo;s inheritance rights and the right to register customary marriages. The law greatly improves women&rsquo;s status, especially in rural areas. 
 
The police may now either mediate disputes or support women who decide to take action. The registration of customary marriages enables women to own property, and the inheritance law guarantees them access to the property they are entitled to when their husbands die, without interference from extended families. 
 
Women must be aware of their rights, and the rights must be enforced.
<img height="38" src="" width="30" alt="" />
&nbsp; 
8. Thailand &ndash; New Anti-Rape Law Passed 
 
Thailand&rsquo;s National Assembly passed a new law at the end of June which criminalizes marital rape. The new law carries a monetary penalty, and also possible imprisonment of up to 20 years. The definition of &ldquo;victim&rdquo; has also been expanded so that men can also file charges against women or other men. 
 
Gay rights activists applaud the law because they now see protection for gays, lesbians and cross-dressers who are often targeted violently. Nevertheless it will take time for rape victims to speak out freely. The justice system is still a barrier, and people will still be afraid for a long time of continued violence at the hands of their aggressors.
<img height="38" src="" width="30" alt="" />
&nbsp; 
9. Uganda &ndash; Law Curbs Effects of Polygamy 
 
A new law in Uganda has decriminalized adultery for women and men. In Uganda, polygamy for men is legal in &ldquo;customary&rdquo; marriages, and thus men&rsquo;s adultery is tolerated. Women&rsquo;s adultery is stigmatized. 
 
The new law has implications for divorce, which is heavily stigmatized. Divorces should be easier to obtain. Now women will be able to divorce husbands who bring the HIV/AIDS virus home. The law also contains provisions regarding inheritance and rights to a widow&rsquo;s children. Women rights are slowly gaining protections in the law.
<img height="38" src="" width="30" alt="" />
10. Uruguay &ndash; National Equal Opportunities Plan Is Launched 
 
In June, the government presented the plan to end gender discrimination in Uruguay where inequality persists between men and women in access to power and work. 
 
The plan aims to reverse inequality and combat discrimination by facilitating women&rsquo;s access to the labour market, reviewing legislation to eliminate discrimination, providing equal access to housing and the social security system. Research into unpaid work will be promoted &ndash; women spend 67% of their time on unpaid work and 33% on paid work, while with men it is just the opposite. 
 
The Vice-President of Uruguay admitted that in macho societies, women are still constrained in roles that have no place in today&rsquo;s world.
<img height="38" src="" width="30" alt="" />
&nbsp; 
11. Resources:
&nbsp; 
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions focuses on equal opportunities in the April issue of FOCUS available at: 
<a href="http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0731.htm">http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef0731.htm</a> 
 
The British TUC reports on work-life balance news at <a href="http://www.tuc.org.uk/work_life/tuc-13468-f0.cfm ">http://www.tuc.org.uk/work_life/tuc-13468-f0.cfm </a> 
 
The second issue of the newsletter of the International Women and Mining Network is available at <a href="http://www.tuc.org.uk/work_life/tuc-13468-f0.cfm ">http://www.tuc.org.uk/work_life/tuc-13468-f0.cfm </a>e at&nbsp; 
 
The NEWSLETTER of the European Parliament Committee on women's rights and gender equality is available at: <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/comparl/femm/news/2007/20070620_newsletter_en.pdf ">http://www.europarl.europa.eu/comparl/femm/news/2007/20070620_newsletter_en.pdf 
</a> 
BRIDGE supports gender advocacy and mainstreaming effort by bridging the gaps between theory, policy and practice with accessible and diverse gender information in print and online. See <a href="http://www.bridge.ids.ac.uk ">http://www.bridge.ids.ac.uk </a> 
 
Information on Equality in Spanish at AmecoPress <a href="http://www.amecopress.net ">http://www.amecopress.net </a>

ICEM WOMEN&quot;S BULLETIN 24

<img height="55" alt="" src="" width="138" />
Justice was slow, but it finally came on 29 June when the Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB), multinational drug company Bayer AG, and the National Contact Point for Germany came to agreement on a longstanding case from the Philippines. 
 
With assistance from ICEM affiliate IGBCE and the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) to the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the agreement grants a trade union leader who was summarily fired in the year 2000 a hefty backpay package, with additional compensation. It also resolves a union dues issue for a chemical workers&rsquo; union that represents workers at Bayer&rsquo;s 600-worker factory in the Canlubang Industrial Estate, Calamba, Philippines.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="88" alt="" src="" width="70" />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<img height="52" alt="" src="" width="108" />&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Juanito Facundo, now 58 and once president of the plant-level union, and the union&rsquo;s treasurer were called into an office in 2000 and fired without notice. Facundo was an electrical engineer and a loyal employee for 30 years. Bayer Philippines said it was merely a matter of redundancy and restructuring, but the victims claimed it was for testifying against managers in an unfair labor practice case and for leading a lawful 1997 strike. 
 
The cases went before the National Labor Relations Commission but after several legal proceedings, the government dropped the complaints. In 2003, DGB picked up the matter and made it a labour rights case under the OECD&rsquo;s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
<img height="111" alt="" src="" width="180" />
&nbsp; 
After tireless work by DGB, Chairman Thomas de Win of the Bayer Works Council in Germany, TUAC, IGBCE, and the Manila office of the Friedrich Ebert Siftung (FES) Foundation, the German company, after visiting the Philippines to conduct its own investigation, came to written terms in late ending the long ordeal.

DGB Successfully Delivers OECD Justice in Bayer Case from the Philippines

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ICEM WOMEN"S BULLETIN 24

DGB Successfully Delivers OECD Justice in Bayer Case from the Philippines

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