Women in Construction – From Policy to Practice

Stefan Plesa
4 hours ago
2 min read

For years, women in construction have been told the same thing:

“The industry just isn’t set up for you.”

That’s changed - because workers and Unite have pushed it to.

Where it started - Raising the issue (2017-2024)

Through Unite organising, workforce feedback, and coverage in the buildingWORKER (Spring 2024), the reality was clear:

PPE didn’t fit
Welfare wasn’t adequate
Policies didn’t reflect real working conditions

This wasn’t about comfort — it was about safety, dignity, and inclusion.

Policy – Driven by the workforce (Policy Conference 2025)

Unite didn’t just highlight the problem - it formalised it.

At the Unite Policy Conference 2025, a combination of women’s policy motions from multiple regions were brought together - including input from workplace reps, one of which came directly from our BYLOR rep, Maria.

These motions focused on improving:

Women’s PPE and workwear
Workplace dignity
Equality and inclusion across all roles

This was agreed under Unite policy (Motion 44 – Women’s PPE and workplace standards).

This wasn’t top-down - it came from the job.

Action - The Workwear Charter (IWMD 2026, Bridgwater)

On International Workers’ Memorial Day 2026, in Bridgwater, that policy turned into action.

The Women’s Workwear Charter was formally agreed between Unite, NNB Generation Company, and Tier 1 contractors.

As set out in the charter:

Workwear must be safe, suitable, properly fitted and dignified across all roles and sectors
PPE must be designed for women — not resized or “unisex” alternatives
Provision must support period dignity and inclusion
Employers must provide proper maternity and pregnancy workwear at all stages
Women’s PPE must be readily available — not treated as a special order

If it doesn’t fit, it’s not safe.

The reality on site (Now)

Despite progress, gaps still exist:

Sizing and availability issues remain
Welfare provision is inconsistent
Policies don’t always translate into practice

And just like with RAMS - where even “visual” systems like VTS have become 30+ page documents - good ideas lose their value if they aren’t practical.

Why this matters

This isn’t a “women’s issue” - it’s a site safety issue.

If: