THE World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report provides some information on how the burden of caring for children and the elderly, is borne disproportionately by women. This is one of the reasons why global female labour force participation rates dipped during and immediately after the Covid pandemic, and have only recently risen back to pre-pandemic levels. While there are economies where this burden of care is being shared more equally between women and men, there are regions where inequality is much higher. South Asia is one such region.
World Bank research finds that where women take extended maternity leave, there is a stronger chance that they will not re-join the labour force. However, they also find that extending paternity leave to men has a positive correlation with women re-entering the labour market. As companies in Pakistan think more thoroughly about how to enhance inclusive workplaces, such research and learning becomes critical. A bird’s eye view of various industries, however, shows that while there are some focused on developing their female cohort and talent, many still do not believe the evidence that employing women makes good business sense. The short-term financial costs of integration within a largely male work environment, and the perception of having to give female employees ‘special’ treatment holds them back.
Women face a disproportionate number of barriers when trying to enter or remain in the workforce. Local research on the jobs market has found that in many cases, the way jobs are advertised and interviews taken, are plagued........