Eskom Women’s Conference
MIDRAND – Eskom hosted a Women's Conference focused on a Women Advancement Programme and to award good work.
Eskom hosted its Women Achievement Programme (Ewap) on 31 August at its learning academy in Kaalfontein, Midrand, which was focused on closing the gap at Eskom between men and women in the workplace.
In March Eskom promoted 40 qualified women into senior positions because one of the aims of the programme is to reach a 50 per cent representation of women in Eskom management by 2020. Presently, there are only 37 per cent of women in management.
Eskom Annual Women’s Conference is part of the Women Advancement Programme, which focuses on discussions, teaching and activities aimed at improving leadership skills, qualifications in the technical space, such as engineering – which is predominantly male orientated – addressing sexual harassment as well as awarding outreach programmes for women in the community, lead by the utility throughout the country.
A number of the female employees in Cape Town have adopted an orphanage with 21 children and are assisting with clothes, food, mentorship and volunteer work.
The conference was attended by 350 people, 60 per cent of which are not in management because the skills and discussions were more focused on those who still want to reach management positions.
READ: Growing women in ICT industry
Tsholo Prince, the programme’s manager said the programme was not a token for women to apply for a position they do not fit into, just because they are women; there is no entitlement.
“Ewap is used not to overlook qualifying women in the workplace, and to ensure that the UN’s targets of gender equality are achieved,” said Prince.
Elsie Pule, the group executive for human resources at Eskom, said the conference had speakers talking about different topics around finance, gender equality and health, among others. Former Eskom employees who left the company on good terms, and who are still doing well for themselves, were invited to encourage those who have come behind them.
“The energy utility will be launching a new campaign during the conference called, My Sister’s Keeper, which will focus on the safety of women, mainly employees in remote areas, whereby people will be required to travel in pairs when attending to field work, to avoid unwanted incidences. Women will be offered self-defence classes,” said Pule.
It was a three-day conference and Pule said she was pleased with the proceedings.
What advice do you have for women who are trying to get ahead in the workplace? Tweet @MidrandReporter
