1. Quotas for Women unionists: Trial and error
Women’’s Empower, Gender Equality and Labour Rights:
Transforming the Terrain
Quotas for Women unionists: Trial and error
Sally Choi
Hong Kong Confederation of trade union

2. HKCTU structure Annual General Member Meeting
Executive Committee (26 members)
6 Committees on various aspects including women committee
HKCTU structure

3. Women participation Membership Executive Committee (29) More than 50%
Before adopting the quota system in 2006
Over 80 affiliates and nearly 160,000 members
Female members participation/representation
At least 1 female representative who is nominated by women committee, be the vice chair
Membership
Executive Committee (29)
More than 50%
15%
Women participation

4. HK Feminist group advocated for gender mainstreaming
ITUC campaign for women representation in unions
External influences

5. Debates and reservations
Unfair to male members
Can women seats represent the interest of all women members?
Feeling inferior to take the women seats
Debates and reservations

6. The 16th AGM of HKCTU

7. Quota system: Women seats
During the Annual General Members (AGM) meeting of HKCTU in 2006
Constitution adopted quota system:
Maximum 4 seats (quota) for women candidate at the exco
Female members are not excluded from general election channel
One of the quota is reserved for nomination from Women committee and other 4 quotas are open for nominations from affiliates
Candidates who take women seats should participate women committee
At least 1 vice chair person is Women
Quota system: Women seats

8. Questions remain Unutilized of the quotas for female candidate
Low participation of Women seats exco members in Women Committee
No big increase of female nominations from affliates
No big change in the leadership level of affliates
Questions remain

9. Structural problems Low leadership turnover (transition) rate
No additional resources for women leadership building and gender training
Differences among female unionists / class differences (white collar vs blue collar)
Structural problems

10. Feedback and Suggestions are welcome