The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) conducted a survey focusing on the women of the transport sector, launching the “Yes to women in transport” campaign. Women seafarers revealed the challenges of dealing with harassment in the workplace.
ETF’s survey revealed that five barriers resulting from gender inequalities and stereotypes persist in the sector, deterring women from joining the industry and impacting their retention:
- Toxic culture of masculinity and gender stereotypes
- Discrimination and unequal treatment at work
- Lack of work-life balance
- Deficiencies in provision for women’s health and safety at work, including access to decent sanitary facilities
- High levels of violence and harassment against women at the workplace
One of the 95 respondents in the survey of nearly 3,000 workers across all transport sectors in 41 countries, including maritime, commented that
When we are alone as women on a ship with only men, they are not nice. They think they can say and do anything.
Moreover, about 40% of the total female transport worker respondents were unaware, however, of any procedures for dealing with harassment and violence in their workplace.
The ETF Campaign “Yes to women in transport” calls on all actors to step up and act upon these demands to make transport fit for women to work in.
The Federation demands that all stakeholders take immediate action by:
- Mainstreaming a gender-responsive approach into EU transport policy
- Strengthening social dialogue to eliminate discrimination and unequal treatment
- Improving work-life balance
- Improving women’s health and safety at work
- Ending violence and harassment against women at work
Concluding, to increase awareness concerning violence and harassment against women transport workers, and to help social partners develop effective workplace policies for eliminating inequality, the ETF will publish guidance on 25 November 2020, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and launch 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.
