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5 years ago

Getting nearer gender parity in labour force?  

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Numerically, gender gap between men and women   in the country's  labour  force   is  narrowing down. According to a report of  the International Labour  Organisation (ILO), female participation in  Bangladesh's labour force  has increased from 33.2 per cent  in 2016 to   36.3 per cent in 2017 .

However, the participation of male  workers  across  agriculture, industry  and service sectors  was   estimated  at around  80.7 per cent  in 2017. That   means    women roughly  represent  slightly less than  half  of  the total workforce. But  it    augurs  well   that the annual  increase  in     female    employment  is more than double    that  of    male.   

Although  they  have still  a long way to go  before bridging  the gap  with   male  representation in the broader  workforce,  yet  in terms of contribution and value addition  to the economy, the   women are second to none. Of foremost  importance,  the vast  majority of  female  workers  -  80-85 per cent -  is the mainstay of the  ready-made garments (RMG)  sector  which is a  resounding   success story, a major pillar of our  sustainable growth.

This has, besides, empowered  our  women  who as earning members  can and do take part  in  the family  decision-making process. And, knowing the value for money they  are constructive  spenders.

In the  domain of   micro-financing , 92 per cent  women  of the mostly rural areas  are involved, with their projects not merely creating wealth  but also  helping bring social change.

With little or no  property ownership rights and a palpable  lack of tools  for  farming or semi-farming activity, they are making a huge difference in   fishery, horticulture, poultry, livestock-rearing.  This is a  measure of their contribution to  the informal sector  which  employs 87 per cent of our labour.    

To top everything up they are doing household chores  of immense  monetary  value.  If the volumes of unpaid work that   women perform were to be monetised and factored into gross domestic product (GDP) calculations, the true magnitude of their contribution  would  have been recognised. Despite  occasional  demands  for  such  a recognition  being  aired by  development professionals, no measuring   standards  have yet been  stipulated. Thus  a  long overdue step for    recognition   of   women goes by default.

Let's not forget that improvement of women's health over the last few decades  has  translated into  their  higher life expectancy  than  that of men: 73  to 72; a  quiet spousal  longevity  revolution   has taken place.        

In spite of  the low participation of   women in the  South Asian nation  labourscape,  the ratios of  Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka  have been steady or on the  rise. Nepal's  female labour force  participation   ratio (LFPR)  was the highest  at 79.3 per cent in 2008 in contrast to 'India's 26.2 per cent  in 2011-12, down from 32.6 per cent  in 2004-05, despite the country's strong   economic growth'.

Analysing  the factors  behind the decline, the report  identified 'increased enrolment  of young women in secondary schools, rising household incomes, lack of suitable  employment opportunities  for women in the non-farm sector  and measurement issues' as  the reasons, according to the report. Most of the factors are quantifiable   except   those having to do with social norms which are difficult to specify, 'let alone measure.'

But surely  dearth of childcare options  can be  mitigated   to   allow for  more  mothers   to work outside  their homes.              

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