(VIDEO) Women trade unionists are alarming about the health situation of women in rural areas

The Women’s Commission of the National Trade Union Confederation of Moldova (CNSM) organized a roundtable in Hincesti district on 23 July to discuss the situation in the field of women’s health in rural areas, the phenomenon of migration and its impact on families, decent work conditions for employees, gender equality issues, in line with the standards of the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

This event was attended by women trade unionists, Petru Chiriac, vice-president of CNSM, Valentina Stratan, deputy in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Ghenadie Buza, president of Hincesti District Council.

Liuba Rotaru, president of the Women’s Commission within the CNSM, mentioned progress in women’s support, including increased single child care allowance, parents have the option of part-time work if they have children up to 3 years of age, special retirement conditions are provided for women who have given birth to more than 3 children, penalties for violence have been tightened, and in some institutions the quality of health services provided to the population has improved.

“We are delighted that the authorities are working to ensure gender equality in all spheres. There is still a lot to do, and the figures that concern the health of the population are on our guard. In particular, women in rural areas suffer. We refer to growing indices related to heart disease, cancer, digestive diseases. It is important to inform the population about healthy lifestyles, to promote the right culture of nutrition, to find the balance between work and personal life, to have accessible prices for medicines, access to quality medical services in localities,” emphasized Liuba Rotaru.

According to Petru Chiriac, vice-president of CNSM, the Confederation, together with the social partners, are taking actions to improve the situation regarding women’s health. “Along with other issues that are permanent on our agenda, attention is focused on safety and health of employees, work hygiene, compliance with conditions that would ensure decent work. The indicators we analyze worry us. Dialogue with social partners is the main factor that can contribute to improving the health of employees. In enterprises where there are trade unions, we also find better working conditions, the employee is protected and his rights are respected. We will continue to inform the trade union assets and negotiate better working conditions with the trade union partners,” said Petru Chiriac.

“These discussions are very useful for all social partners. We have the opportunity to interact, exchange information, discuss issues that worry us and find solutions. We wanted to focus on these two of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – 3 and 5 on health and well-being and gender equality respectively. We will focus on communication, on the active involvement of all social actors, for citizens to know their rights, and trade union organizations play an important role in this process,” says Valentina Stratan, MP in the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova.

“I am glad that women’s health issues are being discussed today in Hincesti. I am a professional doctor, I have been working for many years in this field and I know what the problems are. The Republic of Moldova is experiencing an increase in the number of various types of diseases. To improve things, concerted efforts are required. But everything starts from family education, how the population is involved in what we call generic “healthy lifestyles”, from better information, to the implementation of country-level policies that would favour diminishing the indicators that exist and would prevent the development of diseases,” said Ghenadie Buza, president of the Hincesti District Council.

During the roundtable, the trade unions also discussed the activities organized under the ITUC / PERC campaign “Stop gender-based violence in the world of work”, as well as the provisions of the pension reform, the amendments to the current legislation on the social protection of women, any forms of violence at work and in the family, the extension of the list of compensated medicines, balneo-sanatorium treatment, the need for reforms in the wage system.

In the context of these discussions, the round table participants visited the Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Domestic Violence “Divine Predictions” in the village of Ciuciuleni, Hincesti district, where they got familiar with how to support women who are abused.

Department of mass media and international relations