Women drivers got an insight into labour issues and raised key concerns at an education programme in Kathmandu, Nepal recently.

The programme, organised by the women’s department of the ITF-affiliated union Nepal Yatayat Mazdoor Sangh, known as NETWON, involved around 20 women drivers of three-wheelers, known as tempo vehicles. During the sessions on 26 and 27 May in Kathmandu, women learned about trade union issues, Nepalese labour laws, trade union legislation as well as the national and international labour movement, including the ITF. They also received training on traffic rules and transport law.

In addition, the drivers were given the opportunity to discuss their problems with traffic police representatives, who were also present. Some of their main concerns focused on problems concerning their relationship with traffic officers. For example, according to Lila Bastakoti, a tempo driver and member of the union’s women’s department, traffic police have been known to harass women drivers while they are working. One of the traffic officers committed to feed back these issues to his senior colleagues in a bid to see them resolved.

At the end of the event, the women decided to set up a local welfare fund for women tempo drivers providing them with loans and financial support in case of accident.

Ajay Rai, NETWON president, said: “I believe that this training programme will reap rewards for the union in the future by encouraging women to become more involved.”

Out of a total of 700 tempo vehicles in Kathmandu valley, approximately two hundred are driven by women.

International Transport Workers’ Federation, 10 June 2010

Source: http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/4582