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Inequality In Non-Traditional Sectors On The Way Out

WOMEN'STEC host its first PARTNERS LUNCH to kick off a year-long series of activities throughout Northern Ireland to bring women into non-traditional employment.

Belfast, 23rd January 2007 - WOMEN'STEC, the largest quality provider of training for women in non-traditional skills in Northern Ireland, is hosting today its first Partners Lunch with like-minded organisations to mark the start of a year-long flurry of activities throughout the province that aim to fight inequality in non-traditional sectors and enable women to find jobs traditionally granted to men.

Every year, WOMEN'STEC supports over 150 women who engage with non-traditional trades but are faced with barriers of entry into the Construction and other industries, finding it difficult to convince suitable employers of their worth. One of the most effective ways for the organisation to ensure that women are nurtured through the process is to partner directly with employers and Further Education Colleges.

Their Girl Power project was developed to challenge equality in the workplace through widening career choices of young women, so as to make major positive impact in reducing job segregation and low wages. It promotes gender equality for career choice and delivers accredited training to 14-16 year old girls in trades such as joinery, electrics, special paint effects and mosaics.

Anne McVicker, Chief Executive of WOMEN'STEC, said "We have been supporting women and addressing the barriers that prevent them from embarking on a career in non-traditional sectors, whether this is lack of childcare, problems with travel, financial implications or lack of confidence to go into a male dominated industry for the past 14 years. Thanks to such determination, we now have women who have completed their NVQ in Brickwork or Joinery and our task is to help them find employment to fulfill a successful and enjoyable career. We look forward to working with all our partner organisations to achieve that."

Also speaking at the event in Equality House, Belfast, Evelyn Collins, Chief Executive of the Equality Commission commented: "It is 30 years since the sex discrimination law was passed, and much has been achieved since, but we still need to do more to achieve gender equality". She added: "Occupational segregation contributes significantly to gender inequality in employment. We welcome initiatives like WOMEN'STEC in addressing the under-representation of women in non-traditional sectors such as Construction and IT maintenance and are pleased to be able to facilitate this, and similar partnership events, in Equality House."

To view the interview from the Partners Lunch in Equality House shown on Irish News Television click on the link below

News 41 Interview

http://www.in.tv/news41.html

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