WORLDWIDE, women earn approximately 77 per cent of what men earn, and continue to be primarily responsible for household chores and family responsibilities.
That’s according to a recent study coming out of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Despite progress in areas such as education and maternal mortality, the world has fallen short in bringing women’s employment, earnings and working conditions in line with those of men.
Globally, the labour force participation rate for women is 50 per cent, compared to 77 per cent for men. Yet, having more women in the labour market is not enough. The quality of jobs is paramount.
While 51 per cent of ILO member states provide at least 14 weeks maternity leave, this still leaves millions of women without the fundamental right to adequate maternity protection.

AT RISK
According to the ILO, many women are at risk of violence at home and at work. Violence at work affects women’s ability to access employment, remain in employment and impacts on productivity. Women are under-represented in decision-making positions at work, and while women manage over 30 per cent of all businesses, this tends to be concentrated in micro and small enterprises with only 19 per cent of women sitting on boards of larger companies. Only 5 per cent or less of CEOs of the world’s largest corporations are women. There is still much to be done.
“Cultural traditions and economic conditions cannot excuse discrimination and other violations of fundamental human rights. Countries, whether high or low income, cannot any longer afford to lose out on the social and economic potential of gender equality. Recent research shows that if women participated in the economy identically to men, this would add up to US$28 trillion or 26 per cent of annual global GDP in 2025. If money talks, people should be listening to these extraordinary figures,” the ILO underscored.
It was noted that ambitious policies that succeed in transforming gender norms and relationships in society and at work, and hence addressing structural inequality, are required.
ILO equality conventions, addressing discrimination, equal remuneration for work of equal value, maternity protection and work and family measures, including access to parental leave as well as quality and affordable social care services for dependent family members, provide the road map for action. Recent standards of particular relevance also promote decent work for domestic workers, the creation of social protection floors and the formalization of the informal economy.

“SHARING THE CARE”
More and more countries are adopting public policies that tackle the root causes and consequences of gender inequality and discrimination in all areas of life. “Sharing the care” has been a central focus of these measures.
As ILO Director General, Guy Ryder stated on International Women’s Day, “Promoting decent jobs for women is imperative, now and for the next generation… It is a matter of rights and what is right for women and for sustainable development.”