To mark World Menopause Day, the IUF has released a new policy paper on menopause. Its goal is to support IUF affiliates in making menopause a trade union and a workplace issue.
The paper stresses that menopause is not an illness but is part of the natural ageing process for women, and it happens to 51% of the population. Nevertheless, menopause is still seen as a private matter, a taboo or “a women’s issue.” Historically ignored or disregarded in discussions of women’s occupational safety and health, menopause is often not considered in the design of workplaces and work practices, and this can make menopause symptoms worse. IUF affiliate Unite the Union surveyed 11,000 women union members and found out that 83% of menopausal women have zero access to support at work. Unions have a key role to play in changing this!
The paper:
- Provides an overview of menopause and its symptoms
- Explains what trade unions can do and should pay attention to
- Develops mapping activities, and presents a menopause model agreement as well as a model risk assessment
This document is built on affiliates’ and other trade unions’ resources and seeks to give guidance on the implementation of the resolution on menopause adopted at the 28th IUF Congress. It is currently available in English, French, and Spanish, and will shortly be available in German and Swedish.
