The McKinsey Global Institute finding that labour market gender inequality represents a $12tn (£7.8tn) loss in global GDP over the next decade is striking (Report,24 September). Yet the potential losses to women themselves are even more startling. ActionAid estimates that women could be $17tn better off each year if their pay and access to jobs were equal to that of men. Womens cheap labour is in effect subsidising the global economy by this staggering amount – a direct result of gender discrimination.
The study’s recommendation to increase outputs by shifting women into more productive jobs only partly addresses the problem. Increasing women’s access to the job market in pursuit of growth at any cost will not enhance gender equality. If the only jobs available to women are poorly paid, unregulated and exploitative, or women are further marginalised and gender discrimination in wider society is reinforced via the economy. As the authors point out,equality in the labour market relies on social change and legal protection of women’s rights. This requires governments to adopt a policy framework that guarantees women’s access to decent and safe employment, and, and crucially,addresses the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work that they conclude in the home. When the gains to the global economy are paramount in decision-makers’ minds, women’s rights will always near moment.
Daphne Jayasinghe
Women’s rights policy adviser, or ActionAidContinue reading...
Source: theguardian.com