The General Assault On Females In Services

By Farah Fosse

Gats' privatisation of public services will have a disproportionate effect on the lives of women

It is an assault on nations' freedom to provide essential services to their most vulnerable citizens. And it will render null and void laws passed by elected legislatures to prevent discrimination and protect the environment.

"It" is the General Agreement on Trade in Services (Gats) and at the end of March member countries of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) submitted lists of services to be 'liberalised' under the legally enforceable compact. The beneficiaries will be multinational corporations. Gats covers everything from the supply of water and education to the provision of labour and advice.

If all these services are privatised, then many will not be able to afford them.

Typically women do the reproductive work in society - labour that is needed to maintain a society but is unpaid such as taking care of children and the elderly, cooking, cleaning and growing and buying food. These roles are necessary to maintain life, but are often not ascribed a monetary value, so not respected. When public services are cutback, when they are not available or affordable from private sources, it is generally women who have to provide them.

(Red Pepper. April 2003, no. 106)