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15 June, 2009
Including Report VI at the ILO’s 98th session, International Labour Conference, the ILO Gender Equality Committee finished its work on 10 June with conclusions on the global economic crisis, gender and decent work, export processing zones, occupational safety and health, unequal pay, maternity protection, and social dialogue. In spite of the fact that women are often achieving better results in education than men, the gender pay gap still exists. Women are disproportionately present in low-paying jobs with poor working conditions. Gender-based violence is rampant, and HIV/AIDS affect more women, and the poor in particular.
Men have a role to play in gender equality. In some countries men are taking parental leave. This leads to a change in mentalities and stereotypes. Awareness of paternity as a social value is now taking hold.
Globalization has often created jobs for women that have low pay, little or no access to social security, no access to benefits of collective bargaining, and or to protection of workers’ rights. Rather, efforts must continue to ensure that gender equality is at the heart of decent work. This is a central tenet at this year’s ILO Conference.
The current financial crisis should not be used to undermine women’s rights and achievements. The Global Employment Agenda has to be monitored to promote gender equality as a core element.
Occupational safety and health once only focused on dangerous jobs done by men, but more work must be done on work-related hazards and how they affect women and men differently. Reproductive health is equally an issue that affects both women and men.
The conclusions at the ILO include wording to eliminate job segregation. That alone will be a large step to equal pay. Women can only fully participate in working life if they are assured of measures to provide for their children. The sharing of parental responsibilities is key to breaking down barriers.
Social dialogue is an essential tool for achieving gender equality at work. But in order for it to effective, more women must be involved in it at all levels.