An important component of the work of the Bureau for Workers' Activities consists of the organization of seminars, workers' education and other training activities, particularly on international labour standards, collective bargaining, gender issues, occupational safety and health, the environment and on training methods. Over the past years, the Workers' Education programme has intensified its area of activities in relation to women and gender issues, it has also benefitted from the Interdepartmental Project on Women and Equality in Employment in 1992-1993. In the last two decades, the participation of women in the labour force has grown substantially. Clearly, trade unions need women and women need trade unions, However, whereas unions have traditionally attracted male members, women as a group have often been left out of the inner circles of trade unions.
Women have many responsibilities in family and society in addition to work.
Male dominance and traditional structures hinder the participation of women at the higher level within the union. Serious strategies should be developed and implemented to overcome the many constraints women experience. Women are often socialized to play subordinate roles to men and this can result in a lack of confidence when it comes to assuming public and leadership roles. Union structures which reflect occupational segregation can create barriers for women's advancement. Because large numbers of women are found in only a handful of occupational groups, only a few women tend to be represented on committees and bargaining teams.