St. John’ s, Antigua — The Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) will host the 2026 ABWU Women’s Conference on Wednesday, 29 July, bringing together women from workplaces across Antigua and Barbuda for a day of thought-provoking discussions, practical learning and reflection under the theme: “Women’s Empowerment & Mental Health: Mental Load, Burnout & Invisible Labour.”

Now in its third year, the conference continues to provide a platform for meaningful discussions on issues affecting women in today’s workplaces and communities. This year’s programme will examine the often-overlooked mental and emotional demands placed on women by 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 guide participants to better understand the challenges they face while fostering a shared commitment to finding solutions together.

“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 have meaningful mental health provisions introduced into collective bargaining agreements. These, she said, would accompany recently introduced articles on Menstruation, Maternity and Menopause, which emerged as resolutions from the last conference.

The event will feature an insightful presentation on women’s networking, an interactive panel discussion, and practical strategies designed to equip women with the knowledge and tools to better support their mental wellbeing.

While the conference caters primarily to selected participants drawn from a wide cross-section of workplaces, the conversations taking place are relevant to the wider community. With this in mind, the ABWU is committed to ensuring that the conversation extends beyond the conference room by sharing key highlights, expert insights and educational resources across its social media platforms before, during and after the event.

The ABWU remains committed to advocating for the rights, wellbeing and advancement of all workers, recognising that supporting women’s mental health and wellbeing is essential to building stronger families, healthier workplaces and a more resilient nation

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: ABWU Women's Conference To Spotlight Mental Load, Burnout And Invisible Labour.