The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) will place women’s mental health and workplace wellbeing at the forefront of its annual Women’s Conference later this month, with discussions centred on the often-overlooked burdens of mental load, burnout and invisible labour.
The conference, now in its third year, is scheduled for Wednesday, July 29, at Freedom Hall under the theme “Women’s Empowerment & Mental Health: Mental Load, Burnout & Invisible Labour.” The event will bring together women from a broad cross-section of workplaces across Antigua and Barbuda for a day of presentations, discussions and practical learning aimed at addressing the unique pressures many women face both at work and at home.
According to the ABWU, this year’s programme will examine the mental and emotional responsibilities that frequently go unnoticed but significantly affect women’s wellbeing, productivity, family life and career advancement.
ABWU Training Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Women’s Council, Hazel Luke, said the conference is intended to help participants better understand the challenges they experience while encouraging greater solidarity among women.
“Participants will be able to identify the areas that are impacting them individually – whether burnout, mental load or invisible labour,” Luke said.
She added that the conference will also explore ways women can build stronger support networks.
“We will also explore how we as women can create support systems, so that the challenges we face individually do not divide us, but rather bring us together in solidarity and action,” she said.
The union also hopes the discussions will strengthen its efforts to include meaningful mental health provisions in collective bargaining agreements. Luke noted that this builds on resolutions adopted following last year’s conference, which resulted in the introduction of provisions addressing menstruation, maternity and menopause in workplace agreements.
This year’s conference agenda includes a presentation on women’s networking, an interactive panel discussion and practical sessions designed to provide participants with tools and strategies to better manage stress, prevent burnout and protect their mental wellbeing.
While attendance will primarily be limited to invited participants from workplaces around the country, the ABWU said the issues extend well beyond the conference audience. The union plans to share key discussions, expert insights and educational resources through its social media platforms before, during and after the event to encourage wider public engagement.
The ABWU said it remains committed to advancing the rights and wellbeing of workers, arguing that prioritising women’s mental health is essential to creating healthier workplaces, stronger families and a more resilient Antigua and Barbuda.
