WWA efforts result in formation of anti-harassment committee at Wadan Medical Hospital, Charsadda
Wadan Medical Hospital is one of the most well-reputed and prominent hospitals in Charsadda, with a large staff consisting of both men and women. It was selected as one of the healthcare facilities observed by the Women Workers’ Alliance (WWA) established by the PAIMAN Alumni Trust, a civil society organization implementing the Enhancing Women Workers’ Access to Markets (EWAM) supported by the Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability. The purpose of the WWA was to highlight the issues faced by women workers and take them up with the Labour Department for effective resolution.
WWA visited and monitored Wadan Medical Hospital and observed that there was no anti-harassment committee to resolve grievances. Sidra, who works there as a health technician, said, “A woman can share their problems confidentially with another female worker but we are unable to report our issues and concerns to anyone else due to the fear of losing our jobs.”
In a meeting with the WWA, female staff raised the issue of establishing an anti-harassment committee at the hospital. It was decided that the issue would be taken up with the Labour Department. WWA members subsequently met with the concerned official and also had meetings with locally influential politicians to discuss labour laws and the provision of necessary facilities for women employees at their workplaces. Another meeting was conducted with the officials of the hospital to discuss the lack of an anti-harassment committee. The latter assured the WWA members that they would comply with the law. The hospital management verbally notified the staff regarding the formation of the anti-harassment committee and shared the names of the committee members.
The WWA team therefore helped the women of the hospital get their legal rights.
