On 14 April, we spoke with our member Charlotte Vollaard from Mondiaal FNV and Jyoti Macwan from partner organisation Self-Employed Women Association (SEWA) in India about the role of women’s unions in the fight for climate justice. The climate crisis has a major impact on employment. The United Nations warns that 2.4 billion workers worldwide are exposed to excessive heat, posing a threat to their health. At the same time, many jobs will disappear due to the necessary green and just transition. Yet the transition to a green economy also offers opportunities for new jobs in which everyone should be able to participate on an equal and fair basis, Charlotte explained. These are all important issues that are central to the work of Mondiaal FNV and its partners worldwide.
But how are climate and trade union work linked to gender (in)equality?
Unfortunately, women worldwide still face a weaker position in the labour market than men. Women are overrepresented in the informal sector, continue to bear the bulk of unpaid care work at home and/or in their communities, and are often concentrated in the lowest‑paid jobs.
Jyoti has been the president of SEWA for more than twenty years. SEWA is the largest women’s union in India, with no fewer than 3.2 million members, all women workers from the informal sector. These are women working in 122 different trades, including street vendors, women working in waste and recycling, metal recyclers, as well as women employed in agriculture. Each sector faces specific challenges that require tailored solutions.
Beyond being women, mothers, and daughters, it is essential that women in the informal sector also know their rights as workers. Because they do not have a direct employer, it is difficult to claim those rights. SEWA therefore focuses on the three V’s: Voice, Visibility & Validation. Women in the informal sector must have a voice and be heard, their work must be visible, and they deserve appreciation and recognition for their contributions. SEWA supports women by training them to organise collectively so they can speak with one united voice, take on leadership roles, gain sufficient financial knowledge, and understand their rights regarding social protection. Economic and political self‑reliance is crucial for these workers to participate meaningfully in decision‑making at different levels: at home, in society, and at work. Their voices are essential for developing fair and effective solutions. They know best what does and does not work at the local level.
Climate justice is an important theme in SEWA’s work. Rising temperatures have a worrying impact on the daily lives and health of many women workers in India’s informal sector. Several union members have died due to extreme heat, Jyoti explained. One local solution SEWA has developed is heat –wave insurance. Women workers who are SEWA members can use this to protect themselves against extreme weather conditions. In addition, awareness campaigns are organised to inform women about the disproportionate impact of the climate crisis on their lives. These local voices and solutions are also represented and raised by SEWA at the international level, including during UN climate conferences. However, it remains a challenge in practice to translate international agreements back into local solutions.
Jyoti also shared the challenges they face in their work. How do we ensure that actions continue to work in the long term? Who is willing to finance this structurally? And what role does the national government play? In addition, more gender‑disaggregated data is needed to strengthen women’s voices. This is essential for effective policy. Finally, although SEWA works incredibly hard, there is limited capacity to document all their work. Support is needed to address these various challenges.
