The Tunisian Association of Women for Development conducted a study in the light of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence” to call for official recognition of women workers in agriculture and the legalization of the relationship between workers and employers.
After interviewing 78 women, the study showed the difficulties women, of all ages, from the rural areas of Sidi Bouzid and Kasserine witness to provide a living to their families. Their daily pay does not exceed 10 dinars a day. The study addressed the women’s difficult economic and social conditions and work accidents they are subject to and invites authorities to intervene.
These women, the study showed, are victims of the critical situation in these areas in general. Illiteracy, early school dropout, unemployment, and poverty are, also, major factors of the situation of these women.
Lack of employment opportunities and difficult access to professional training, especially to those who do not have qualifications, left them with no choice but to work in the agricultural sector. The study argues that women are impacted the most by the dire situation of the two areas.
Women’s employment in the agricultural sector is not subject to any of the conditions of organized labour. On the contrary, their work is rarely acknowledged. Most women do not get any work contract, except in big farms.
The study argues that the sector is soon becoming open for exclusively women reinforcing, hence, gender stereotypes of agricultural work as being reserved to women in addition to housework.
The study emphasizes the failure of the government’s role and strategies when it comes to organizing women’s employment in the agricultural sector.
#Tunisia #Agriculture #Women_employment
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