Spotlight on Rosa Calle (COB/COMUANDE-Bolivia)

By Alberto A. Zalles and Samuel Grumiau (Interviewers)

Rosa Calle, the trade union education and social protection secretary for the Bolivian workers' confederation COB and president of the Bolivian Section of the Andean Women Workers' Network, COMUANDE gives us an overview of the situation in Bolivia.

The trade unions have been closely involved in government policy since the recent elections in December 2005. Job insecurity, wage inequalities and inadequate maternity protection are key issues she raises of particular concern to women workers.

The Coordinadora de Mujeres Trabajadoras Andinas (COMUANDE) is a body bringing together working women from the Andean region. It was founded by Agreement CCLA -14/2000 of the Consejo Consultivo Laboral Andino and is composed of representatives from the various women's sections of the different trade union centres in Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela.