Over two years, PEP supported a research initiative to examine context-specific barriers to decent work for women, and identify pathways to removing these barriers, in six countries: Kenya, Senegal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and Peru. See Impact for more.
In-country local research teams used a mixed-methods approach to describe and analyze context-specific barriers to women’s access to decent work, focusing on legal barriers and social norms. Motherhood responsibilities, precarious jobs with little or no social security, and limited education emerged as key barriers that inhibited women from realizing their full potential in the workplace in the Global South.
To promote gender equality, women need to be able to participate in decent work. While many countries recognize gender equality and a number have ratified international conventions, their economic, legal, infrastructural, and social contexts continue to hamper women’s access to decent work.
Decent work provides a fair income, safe and healthy working conditions, job security, as well as equal opportunities and treatment for all, according to the International Labour Organization definition.
However, social gender norms cause or amplify the barriers to decent work that women face in all the countries studied. These norms disproportionately place childcare and household responsibilities on women, limit girls’ and women’s access to education, and create unsafe travel and work environments for women.
The effect is striking. To share a few examples – in Kenya, even though over 75% of women participate in the labor market, only 39% of these are employed in the modern wage sector (formal in terms of registration, taxation, and official recording). Seven out of ten women in Senegal are employed in vulnerable jobs, while in Sri Lanka, only 7.6% of working-age women are employed in decent work, with most low-skilled women employed in agriculture and manufacturing.
An earlier PEP blog dives deeper into the barriers women face and how these can be addressed through meaningful policy reforms, and PEP’s Executive Director Prof. Jane Mariara unpacks how motherhood impacts female labour force participation in decent work across countries in her LinkedIn newsletter. In a third and final blog in the series, country teams drawn on their experiences to explain why policy pathways can only be shaped effectively through an informed perspective.
Find out more about findings from each country below.
Successive Sri Lankan governments have shown commitment to women’s economic empowerment, but with limited success. A team of local researchers found that access to decent work is generally very low in Sri Lanka, but particularly among women. Low-skilled women, young women, and those employed in agriculture have the least access to decent work. The team showed that women’s participation in decent work increases exponentially with higher levels of education. Additionally, affordable, good quality and convenient childcare can improve women’s access to decent work. However, the use of childcare facilities in Sri Lanka is very low. Policies that can promote higher education and provide affordable childcare are likely to allow more women to hold decent jobs.
Despite years of efforts, and some progress, labor inequality between women and men persists in Perú. Women’s labor force participation is lower than that of men; yet their informal employment rate is higher. A team of local researchers found that the main barriers women face in accessing decent work are gender stereotypes and a lack of accessible care services. Awareness campaigns to address sexist gender norms, expanding daycare services, and taking a gender transformative approach to public employment investment are some steps likely to help address gender inequalities in Perú.
Brazilian women continue to encounter numerous barriers that limit their access to decent jobs and equitable career opportunities, despite significant advancements towards gender equality in the workplace. A team of local researchers identified discrimination, parenthood and the effects of the pandemic as the main barriers to decent work for women, with social gender norms contributing to each barrier. The team’s analysis indicates that to improve women’s access to decent work, policies are needed to extend daycare hours, and promote more gender-equal social norms so that fathers are more involved (for example, shared parental or expanded paternity leave, and education and health notifications being addressed to both parents).
The Senegalese government is actively promoting gender equality through various national strategies. However, the vast majority of women are employed in vulnerable, informal-sector jobs. Lack of access to decent work for women limits women’s empowerment and negates gender equality efforts. A team of local PEP researchers identified the main barriers women face in accessing decent work and evaluated potential solutions. They found that investing in education and training for women and girls can be key to them accessing decent work. Additionally, providing affordable childcare would increase employment options for women and their income potential.
Women in the Philippines participate much less than men in the labour force. When they do find paid (productive) work, these jobs are often not considered “decent”, i.e. full-time and at least the minimum wage. A team of local PEP researchers identified the obstacles that are preventing Filipino women from accessing decent work. Traditional gender roles and norms make household work and childcare the woman’s responsibility, taking time away from paid employment. Furthermore, external childcare services are unable to accommodate the number of children needing places. Additionally, legal measures intended to protect women are insufficiently implemented, and women are less likely to be able to use ICT for productive purposes. Investing to expand childcare services, promoting co-parenting, ensuring gender-responsive policies and compliance, and boosting girls’ and women’s participation in ICT trainings can increase decent employment options for women.
