Equal economic opportunities for women
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Md Nurun Nabi
PRODUCTIVE employment for women, who constitute almost half the national population, could significantly enlarge the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
There is a need for making selective efforts to integrate the female population of the country with productive jobs to boost the GDP and national income.
Keeping the women restricted to only unpaid household activities means denying them the opportunity to contribute to the national economy.
But females either do not get jobs or are discriminated at work places. A recent FE report quoting the International Labour Organisation (ILO) started that a typical female factory worker earns on an average 21 per cent less than her male counterpart in Bangladesh. The report stated that workplace discrimination is more at menial jobs than at higher-paying white collar jobs requiring higher education and expertise.
But the menial female workers by far outnumber the white collar workers. They join the labour force to supplement the family income or whey they have to take care of their families.
Paying women less than men for the same work is totally unjustifiable. Bangladesh must have a law to prevent such work-place discrimination. The law must be enforced wherever it takes place. Awareness campaign is needed to make the employers conscious of their duty and obligation to make equal payment to the female workers.
The rights of women, their potential to contribute to the national economy, their due social and family roles, all of these things and more need to be ensured under a clear cut policy. Social barriers need to be overcome so that women could contribute more to the economy and get their due.
Like other modern economies, Bangladesh should welcome both males and females to maximise production, income and consumption. The cultural practice that discouraged women from working outside their homes should be discarded. The practice to marry off girls in their teens, specially among the poor, also should be discarded. The practice destroys their aspirations for education and producting employment. Women must overcome the socio-cultural hurdles that keep them away from the mainstream of employment. Social awareness and supporting government policies can do a lot here.
PRODUCTIVE employment for women, who constitute almost half the national population, could significantly enlarge the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
There is a need for making selective efforts to integrate the female population of the country with productive jobs to boost the GDP and national income.
Keeping the women restricted to only unpaid household activities means denying them the opportunity to contribute to the national economy.
But females either do not get jobs or are discriminated at work places. A recent FE report quoting the International Labour Organisation (ILO) started that a typical female factory worker earns on an average 21 per cent less than her male counterpart in Bangladesh. The report stated that workplace discrimination is more at menial jobs than at higher-paying white collar jobs requiring higher education and expertise.
But the menial female workers by far outnumber the white collar workers. They join the labour force to supplement the family income or whey they have to take care of their families.
Paying women less than men for the same work is totally unjustifiable. Bangladesh must have a law to prevent such work-place discrimination. The law must be enforced wherever it takes place. Awareness campaign is needed to make the employers conscious of their duty and obligation to make equal payment to the female workers.
The rights of women, their potential to contribute to the national economy, their due social and family roles, all of these things and more need to be ensured under a clear cut policy. Social barriers need to be overcome so that women could contribute more to the economy and get their due.
Like other modern economies, Bangladesh should welcome both males and females to maximise production, income and consumption. The cultural practice that discouraged women from working outside their homes should be discarded. The practice to marry off girls in their teens, specially among the poor, also should be discarded. The practice destroys their aspirations for education and producting employment. Women must overcome the socio-cultural hurdles that keep them away from the mainstream of employment. Social awareness and supporting government policies can do a lot here.