ST. JOHN'S, Antigua — The Antigua and Barbuda Workers' Union (ABWU) will host its 2026 Women's Conference on Wednesday, 29 July, gathering women from workplaces across Antigua and Barbuda for a day of discussion and practical learning. According to Antigua News Room, the event will be held under the theme: "Women's Empowerment & Mental Health: Mental Load, Burnout & Invisible Labour."
Now in its third year, the conference continues to serve as a platform for meaningful dialogue on issues affecting women in today's workplaces and communities. This year's programme will examine the mental and emotional demands placed on women, exploring how mental load, burnout and invisible labour affect wellbeing, productivity, family life and career advancement.
ABWU Training Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Women's Council, Hazel Luke, said the conference will help participants better understand the challenges they face while building a shared commitment to collective solutions.
"Participants will be able to identify the areas that are impacting them individually — whether burnout, mental load or invisible labour," Luke explained. "And 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."
Luke added that a further goal of the conference is to strengthen efforts to introduce meaningful mental health provisions into collective bargaining agreements. She said these would accompany recently introduced articles on Menstruation, Maternity and Menopause, which emerged as resolutions from the previous conference.
The event will feature a presentation on women's networking, an interactive panel discussion, and practical strategies designed to equip participants with tools to better support their mental wellbeing.
While the conference primarily caters to selected participants drawn from a broad cross-section of workplaces, the ABWU has stated its commitment to extending the conversation beyond the conference room. The union plans to share key highlights, expert insights and educational resources across its social media platforms before, during and after the event.
The ABWU reaffirmed its dedication to advocating for the rights, wellbeing and advancement of all workers, noting that supporting women's mental health is essential to building stronger families, healthier workplaces and a more resilient nation.
