Geneva, Switzerland, 11 June 2026 – During the IndustriALL Women’s Committee meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, Indonesian women workers’ representative Siti Masitoh, a participant in the CEMWU (FSP KEP SPSI) Mentor-Mentee Programme, emphasized the importance of leadership development initiatives in strengthening women’s participation and leadership within the trade union movement.
Speaking during a session on women’s leadership and trade union renewal, Siti Masitoh stressed that mentor-mentee programmes are among the most effective tools for preparing the next generation of women leaders capable of addressing the challenges facing workers and trade unions in the future.
According to Siti, many women workers possess significant leadership potential but often face barriers such as limited access to education, organizational experience, professional networks, and opportunities to develop leadership skills.
“Mentor-mentee programmes provide an invaluable learning space for women workers. Through guidance, experience-sharing, and knowledge transfer from experienced leaders, women can build confidence, broaden their perspectives, and prepare themselves to take on leadership roles within their unions,” said Siti Masitoh.
She noted that leadership renewal is essential to ensuring the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of trade unions. Therefore, unions must actively create pathways that enable young women workers to grow and develop as future leaders.
Siti further emphasized that the success of mentor-mentee programmes should not only be measured by the number of participants involved, but also by their ability to encourage women to take on strategic roles within their organizations, including as union officers, negotiators, organizers, educators, and decision-makers.
“When women support other women to grow and lead, we are not only building stronger individuals, but also creating stronger and more inclusive organizations,” she stated.
Siti Masitoh’s participation in the international forum reflects the growing contribution of Indonesian women workers to advancing gender equality and strengthening women’s leadership within the global trade union movement.
Drawing from her experience in the CEMWU Mentor-Mentee Programme, Siti expressed her hope that more trade unions will invest in similar initiatives to develop a new generation of women leaders capable of driving positive change for workers, unions, and society.
“Investing in Women Leaders Today Means Building Stronger Unions Tomorrow.”
