Authorities pledge to improve working conditions for female port workers

Building gender policies, analyzing the current reality and proposing improvements in working conditions, infrastructure and training of women in port facilities, were just some of the issues addressed during the commemoration of National Port Women's Day.

Costa Rica became the first country in Central America to commemorate Port Women's Day, which, according to Executive Decree N°38682-MOPT-MCM, is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of September. On the same day, the National Commission for the Support and Promotion of Women's Work in the Ports of the Caribbean and Pacific Region of Costa Rica, was established.

"Roles in the port sector have traditionally been occupied by men, however, in recent years, access to and the acceptance of female talent who contribute to the dynamization of Costa Rica's economy, has been promoted,” commented Ania Blackwood, Communications Coordinator at APM Terminals Moín. “The commemoration of National Port Women's Day recognizes the contribution they make as well as the challenges they face in achieving equality.”

This year, the ceremony was held on 22 September, virtually through the Teams platform, with the participation of Guimara Tuñón, General Director of Ports and Maritime Industries of Panama, as well as panelists representing the different institutions and companies that make up the National Commission of Port Women.

Those attending the virtual event, which included the Regional Head of INAMU Huetar Caribe, Norelky Sanchez; the Vice President of INCOP Board of Directors, Marcela Calvo; the Executive President of JAPDEVA, Sucy Wing; and the Vice Minister of Infrastructure of the MOPT, Alejandro Guillen, expressed their support for opportunities for improving infrastructure, working conditions, training and employability.

A panel discussion which examined the current Experiences of Port Women took place, with the participation of representatives of the institutions that make up the Commission. The goal was to raise awareness of the needs that women live day by day, as well as the challenges they have faced to reach the positions they occupy today.

In the near future, the National Learning Institute (INA) is expected to support the creation of an agreement with the ports, in order to provide ongoing training to all port women who require it, ranging from gender policies to technical issues related to the roles and functions they perform in the ports.

Another fundamental issue that will be addressed by the Commission is the issue of care conditions for minors, for which IMAS, an institution with extensive experience in this area, is expected to provide support to women with children.

The Commission has succeeded in combining efforts between the public and private sectors, to provide visibility for the efforts that are contributing to the continuous improvement of work and training spaces for women in Costa Rica. The vision and commitment of each one of the members of this commission is to promote the incorporation of a new generation of maritime workers, who bring capacity and innovation to all areas of the Port.

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CNMP Contacts

Paola Acuña Chacón. División Marítimo Portuaria, Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes. paola.acuna@mopt.go.cr

Jéssica Ortiz Mora. División Marítimo Portuaria, Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes. Jessica.ortiz@mopt.go.cr

Mariam Calvo Chaves. Instituto Costarricense de Puertos de Pacífico. mcalvo@incop.go.cr

Seidy Jiménez Guerrero. Instituto Costarricense de Puertos de Pacífico. sjimenez@incop.go.cr

Jill Salmon Small. Junta de Administración Portuaria y de Desarrollo Económico de la Vertiente Atlántica. jsalmon@japdeva.go.cr

Tatiana Sáenz Hernández. Junta de Administración Portuaria y de Desarrollo Económico de la Vertiente Atlántica. tsaenz@japdeva.go.cr

Ana Erika Araya Araya. Sociedad Portuaria de Caldera a.araya@spcaldera.com Grettel Arias Ortega. Sociedad Portuaria de Caldera g.arias@spcaldera.com

Carolina Arce. Gonzalez INCOFER. Carce@incofer.go.cr

Ania Blackwood Mc Lean APM Terminals. ania.blackwood@apmterminals.com

Lisbeth Thomas Fuller APM Terminals. lisbeth.thomas@apterminals.com Comisión Nacional Mujer Portuaria Costa Rica: comisionmujerportuariacr@gmail.com