TLDR:

• SHENA forum notes women's low Safety & Health roles despite high workforce presence, challenging Wawasan 2035 equity goals.

• Issues raised: Inadequate PPE for women, unique female health and safety risks, underreporting of sexual harassment.

• Solutions proposed: Women's involvement in risk management, MPEC's upskilling funding, emphasizing women's empathetic leadership in HSE.

• Actions encouraged: Training on sexual harassment, adopting UN SDGs, formalizing career paths, and salary structures for women in HSE.

• Calls for mentorship and networking to break cultural barriers for women's career progression in HSE.

March 18ᵗʰ, 2024 – SHENA's forum "Empowering Women in Safety and Health," aligned with International Women's Day, aimed to tackle gender gaps in Brunei's health and safety sector. The event set the stage for discussions on inclusive policies and women's unique workplace challenges, embodying the nation's vision for workforce equality. What followed was a rich exchange of insights, pinpointing both obstacles and strides towards empowering women in this critical field.

At the forefront of societal evolution in Brunei, the "Forum on Empowering Women in Safety and Health" convened by SHENA unveiled crucial insights that both celebrate progress and acknowledge gaps in the domain of safety and health—a field where women make up a mere 20% and 16% of WSH Officers and Coordinators respectively, despite constituting 40% of the overall workforce. This statistic stands in contrast to the ambitious national vision Wawasan 2035, which champions equal opportunities for a skilled workforce and world-class HSSE standards.

Delving into the specifics, the forum discussed how current PPE designs largely disregard women's anatomical needs, highlighting the importance of developing equipment tailored to varying female physiques, considering factors such as hip size and height. Moreover, it was noted that WSH regulations in Brunei uniquely extend duty holder responsibilities to the well-being of unborn children carried by pregnant workers, reflecting a deep understanding of women's specific health and safety needs.

The event was not just about identifying problems but also about forging solutions and encouraging active participation. Women were encouraged to join risk management teams to address biomechanical differences, the impact of pregnancy on work—like prolonged standing and heavy lifting—and the psychosocial aspect, including postpartum depression and sexual harassment, which remains widely underreported due to unsegregated facilities and insufficient lighting in workspaces.

The MPEC's HSE Competency Apprenticeship Programme exemplifies a commitment to progress, offering up to $15,000 to companies for staff development, with a notably positive reception indicating a cultural shift in the industry's approach to gender inclusivity.

The forum stressed the significance of soft skills, suggesting that women's natural proclivity for empathetic thinking is invaluable in HSE practices. It further advocated for women to be trained as first aiders and to seek leadership roles, defying self-limiting norms.

Training on sexual harassment was identified as an essential need, addressing a general lack of awareness about what constitutes harassment or bullying. It was urged that organizations not only sign up to the UN SDGs, focusing on inclusivity and equality but also embed these principles into their policies, recruitment, and promotion practices.

MPEC and SHENA's joint efforts in developing career pathways and salary guidelines for HSE careers represent a strategic push to empower women in this field. The forum underscored the necessity for women to challenge the status quo, seek mentors, and build networks, propelling them beyond cultural barriers to self-actualization and paving the way for a more inclusive, dynamic Safety and Health sector in Brunei.

In conclusion, the SHENA forum marked a significant step toward redefining the landscape of Safety and Health for women in Brunei. It was a convergence of thought leadership and advocacy that not only shone a light on the prevailing gender disparities but also charted a forward-thinking path. The collective wisdom gleaned from the forum's discussions underscored a commitment to action and a brighter, more inclusive future for all women in the workforce.