Lifestyle | Work In Progress

Afsar Syed Mohammad, Senior Technical Specialist, Gender Equality, Diversity and ILOAIDS

Neline M., who works for an American multinational company in Geneva, Switzerland, considers herself lucky to be working for a company that does not discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) employees. After her partner was transferred to Geneva, she informed her HR manager about her relationship and requested a transfer to Geneva. Her company accepted the request under its “dual career” policy, which acknowledges LGBTI couples.
More companies, and many governments, could do a better job improving the laws, policies and working conditions for LGBTI employees, studies find.

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Laura Addati, ILO’s,
Maternity Protection and Work-Family Specialist

Let me tell you briefly the stories of Afia and Melba.

Afia gets up every day at 5 a.m. to fetch water from a well two miles away from her farm in Djanipe (Togo) to prepare a family meal before going off to her farming or trading activities When she comes back home in the evening, she is too tired to play with her two children, aged four and two.

Soglo, her husband, works shorter hours and does not participate in childcare or household chores. They have been hit hard by the lack of rainfall and are constantly struggling to make ends meet. Continue reading →