On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the March 8th March was held today in Sarajevo.
“We march for dignified work, workplace safety, and equal pay. For working conditions worthy of life. We march against unpaid and underpaid labour in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We march for a better life for all of us. We march in solidarity with women whose rights are systematically violated – whether they are underpaid, forced to work weekends and overtime without compensation and annual leave, or subjected to workplace harassment and sexual abuse.“
While the aforementioned issues are among the most common workplace violations, women face double marginalization in the labour market – they lack paid leave to care for their children, lose their jobs or employment opportunities as soon as they become pregnant, and are paid less than their male colleagues for the same work, the march organizers stated.
“The March 8th March is not just a protest – it is a message to those in power, the authorities, and employers that women workers are not slaves and that we will not remain silent while they profit and exploit us. This is a historical struggle that continues, and we will not give up.“
Women must be protected, just like all free citizens of this society.
“The March 8th March focuses on the economic and social rights of women. The very history of March 8th stems from the struggle for women’s equality in the labour market, as well as in the economic and social spheres. The name of our march, ‘I Want to Live Off My Work,’ sends a clear message about the reality of women’s equality in the labour market in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Maida Zagorac, one of the activists and organizers of the march, in a statement to Oslobođenje.
Written by our correspondent D.I.
