Progress has been made on such things as childcare, parental rights and, more recently, sexual harassment at work and in the unions. Cosatu has contributed to the development of respected women leaders, three of whom now serve in the national assembly of the new parliament. But a lot still needs to be done. As yet attempts to organise this layer of women workers are inadequate. This problem has been aggravated by the departure of leading union women to government and other organisations.
Gender issues are under-researched in South Africa.
Few unions have recorded figures and so most statistics are guesses. And, while areas and issues have been identified, research is yet to be carried out. More discussion is needed on labour's strategy for the further emancipation of women. Issues and campaigns have been taken up, primarily with short-term focusses, in a piecemeal fashion. Developing a strategy to transform existing power structures that lie at the root of women's subordination is crucial.