Efling Union sends its congratulations to Efling women and to all women in Iceland on Women’s Rights Day. Today, June 19, marks 110 years since Icelandic women aged 40 and over gained the right to vote and run for parliament. In 1920, with the adoption of a new constitution, the age limit was lowered to 25.
Women’s Rights Day is a day of celebration, but most importantly, it is a day to continue the fight for equality. The reality is that gender equality is still far from being achieved in the Icelandic labor market. Efling women know this from experience.
According to surveys conducted by Varða – the Research Institute of the Labor Market – Efling women face some of the harshest conditions in the Icelandic labor market. A large number struggle to make ends meet, nearly half report poor mental health, and more than half are on the verge of burnout.
This cannot continue. Efling women, and other working-class women, keep Icelandic society running. They are the ones who drive the wheels of the economy, care for children, the elderly, and the sick. They deserve respect, fair working conditions, and recognition for the value of their work. That is Efling’s demand on Women’s Rights Day – and every other day as well.
Happy Women’s Rights Day.