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Mint
12 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
The salary concern running through female employment
The Global Gender Gap Report 2025, released by the World Economic Forum earlier this month, ranks India at 131 out of 148 countries on its Gender Gap Index. The gender differential in the labour force participation rate (LFPR), or the share of the population that is working or actively seeking work, is one of the metrics it considers for the report. For India, it shows this at 76.4% for males and 35.1% for females, or a differential of 41.3 percentage points. Over the last decade, government data shows greater participation by women in the labour force, but the quality of work—and, by extension, earnings—remains a concern. Also Read: Marriage changes women's lives—men's, not so much. The data shows it. India's female LFPR has been lower, whether compared with neighbours like Sri Lanka or with fast-growing countries in Asia, or with developed regions. The LFPR of poorer countries such as Bangladesh has risen above India's in recent years. At the same time, India's female LFPR has increased in recent years. The increase is more in rural areas as compared to urban areas. Over the last decade or so, one of the weakest aspects of India's labour market seemed to be finally showing signs of improvement. The proportion of the female population that is engaged in work other than domestic and home care began to rise. For a segment of the population that, to date, had been largely engaged in unpaid domestic work, this was a potentially major step. But underlying the rise in female participation in the labour market are deeper concerns about the quality of work being generated, and how it is being captured. Work without money In terms of type of employment, the biggest rise in women workers has been of self-employed workers. This covers a wide range of incomes and economic classes—from women running their own companies to those who run a kirana shop. Crucially, the self-employed segment now also includes women who do unpaid work in household enterprises—for example, in a family-owned kirana shop—raising questions over the quality of employment. Also Read: Where are the women? Why India's trading floors remain a male domain Self-employed women in these two categories accounted for about 66% of women workers in 2023-24, as compared to about 49% in 2017-18. In contrast, the number of women who are salaried has risen in absolute terms by around 10 million during this period. However, the share of the salaried among women workers has fallen by around 5.5 percentage points—from 24.3% in 2017-18 to 18.7% in 2023-24. Salary perks While self-employment is often praised in terms of female entrepreneurship, the reality is that the vast majority of self-employment, especially for women, is of low quality in terms of earnings. In 2023-24, average monthly earnings of self-employed women were lower than even those women workers who work in casual labour, and much lower than women who work as salaried employees. Irrespective of gender, it is salaried employees who earn the most among the three categories of workers. The reality of 'entrepreneurship', for both men and women, is one of highly insecure, low-paying work—for example, running a small shop or engaging in piece work. In the current 'gig' economy, even those who act as couriers or food delivery workers are considered 'self-employed'. In general, they are not covered by even minimal labour legislation. In contrast, even a low-end salaried job tends to pay more. Also Read: The unpaid burden: For Indian women, degrees don't ease household chores State of decline In 2023-24, only 18.7% women workers were salaried. This figure exceeds 30% in only eight states or Union territories: in descending order of share, Chandigarh, Delhi, Puducherry, Goa, Kerala, Punjab, Haryana, and Tamil Nadu. At the other end, there are two populous, but poorer northern states, namely Bihar (5.5%) and Uttar Pradesh (7.9%). Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are also among the 22 states that have seen the share of salaried among women workers decline between 2017-18 and 2023-24. Even in an affluent state like Delhi, the decline in women in salaried jobs has been 7 percentage points. States and Union territories that have seen an increase in the proportion of salaried women are Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Haryana. The big challenge in the labour market facing the government is to accelerate not just absolute numbers, but also the share of higher-quality jobs. Salaried jobs may be boring, but they are better than the alternatives for now, at least. is a database and search engine for public data.
Khaleej Times
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Pink tax: Why do women's products cost more than men's?
The 'pink tax' is a mark-up on women's products just because they're for women. On this topic, I am Gen-Z, because it seemed so obvious it never even crossed my mind to write this column. Or, more likely, because I'm a man I don't have to deal with it. For goodness's sake, I have a sister; she was stealing my deodorant when we were tweens, while I was complaining that the added scent in most men's deodorant was giving me a rash. The mark-up itself is just messed up. You're looking at a price increase of five per cent to 10, to 50, sometimes 90 per cent based on packaging and vibes. I know the pink tax is a problem in the UAE because it's a problem here in Canada and it's a problem anywhere it goes unsolved. Women spend an average of Dh5,000 more a year on hygiene and beauty products than men, from haircuts and shampoo to clothing and accessories. Just the same though, I'm not just talking about the pink tax because I wanted lavender moisturiser and not 'arctic gun oil' or whatever the cheaper men's version was scented; it's because of the extra costs put upon women that makes their daily, most essential products more expensive. Having to pay for menstruation products are only the start. The UAE remains, by every metric, a leader in gender equality based on private and public studies. The World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index for 2023 found in the UAE, the gender gap had been closed at 71.2 per cent — the highest in the Middle East and higher than countries like Italy and Indonesia. Yet problems persist. The pink tax is a tax on time and energy. On not feeling free to post on social media or when walking down the street minding their own business. I repeat all of these things to insist on them, because they have been the cause of feminists and activists for years, and I would not have been told to write about the pink tax by a Gen-Z woman living in the UAE if she weren't going through the same thing. The pink tax comes from this, women are willing to spend more. But most content won't say why. Why? Because men make them. Not to heap more blame on the patriarchy, but the average woman has much higher societal expectations put on her for her appearance compared to the average man. There are cries of gold-digging and the ideal dad bod, or how it's fair because men pay for more dates, or whatever, but the fact of the matter is there is still a net loss for women. I'm not ahead of the curve to say as much, but for people living in the UAE, I have higher expectations. The country is a growing one, and a young one, but it is small, and someone's world can only be so big. By the time I moved away for university, I had friends from Ras Al Khaimah to the Burj Khalifa, and even a monoculture had emerged for our age group. We all saw the same memes, played the same games, and suffered the same schooling. But stuff like the pink tax is just the start. When Adolescence came out on Netflix everyone cried shock and awe, but not me and any man or woman my age who was in school when social media came about. It's just so much more in their faces now with social media, it can't be ignored. The pink tax is easier to turn a blind eye to.
Express Tribune
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Women call for justice, equality and action
Social society activists take part in a demonstration to mark the International Women's Day in Islamabad. Photo: Online Raising their voices over the many injustices, women across the country participated in the Aurat March on Saturday to mark International Women's Day, symbolising a collective feminist tradition of protest and resistance. Also, the Senate passed a unanimous resolution, urging all stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, media, academia, and individuals, to join hands in advancing gender equality and empowering women. The first Aurat March in Pakistan was held on March 8, 2018, in Karachi. The next year, it was extended to more cities, including Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Larkana, and Hyderabad. This year's event was the seventh march since its inception. This year, too, women from all segments of society marched for their rights in major cities across the country. They held posters inscribed with "Stop gender-based violence" and "Girls just wanna walk home safe". Some marchers also held banners in support of the people of Palestine while others called for an end to enforced disappearances. It is no small feat in a conservative country where many women often don't feel safe in public places because of the harassment they often endure. Those who took part in marches faced intense backlash, especially online. Some said they had received death and rape threats afterwards. And this year, voices on both sides of the debate have grown louder in the lead-up. The Senate resolution called for bold, decisive, and sustained efforts are essential for creating a more inclusive, equitable, and just society. The resolution, tabled by PPP Senator Sherry Rehman on International Women's Day, highlighted the importance of Accelerate Action for Gender Equality, as highlighted by the theme for International Women's Day 2025, consistent with the priority of the UN 69th Commission on the Status of Women aimed at advancing gender equality and women's empowerment through economic inclusion for women and girls globally. "Recognizing the persistent disparities and challenges faced by women and girls in Pakistan, including but not limited to economic, social, and political barriers that hinder their full participation and contribution to society," the resolution reads. Acknowledging that Pakistan ranks 145th out of 146 countries on the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index. This indicates a significant gender gap and a decline from 2023, when Pakistan was ranked 142ndunderscoring the urgency of taking swift and decisive measures to bridge the gender gap. The Senate of Pakistan recommends that the Government should take accelerated measures to ensure and enhance women's economic inclusion, including but not limited to: i) Forging women's economic empowerment by increasing financial inclusion, expanding access to credit and business resources, and fostering entrepreneurship to create sustainable economic opportunities for women; ii) Ensuring women have the right to make health choices and not be forced to marry while they are underage. Helping women and girls make informed decisions about their health by reforming healthcare policies, ensuring access to reproductive health services, and prioritizing mental and maternal health care; iii) Ensuring women's access to legal rights, information on their rights, and timely action for prosecution of crimes against women, including political victimization; iv) Ensuring action on gender-based violence and sexual harassment in the workplace. Ensuring crimes based on so-called "honour" are severely penalised by law. v) Recruiting, retaining, and developing and investing in women's talent by strengthening policies that promote workplace equity, ensure fair and equal wages, and implement programs to support career progression and leadership development; vi) Supporting women and girls in leadership, decision-making, business, and STEM fields through strategic mentorship programs, scholarships, and educational reforms that break barriers to professional advancement; vii) Designing and building infrastructure that meets the needs of women and girls by improving transport safety, workplace childcare facilities, and access to digital and financial resources to support economic participation; viii) Involving women and girls in sustainable agriculture and food security by equipping them with technical training, land rights, and access to agricultural financing to enhance their role in climate resilience and food sustainability; ix) Providing women and girls with access to quality education and training by eliminating barriers to schooling, promoting literacy programs, and ensuring digital access for skill-building and lifelong learning; x) Elevating women and girls' participation and achievement in sports by increasing investment in female athletes, ensuring equal opportunities, and breaking gender stereotypes in competitive sports; xi) Promoting the creative and artistic talent of women and girls by supporting women in the arts, literature, and cultural industries through funding, mentorship, and public platforms for expression; xii) Addressing further areas supporting the advancement of women and girls, including legal protections against discrimination, stronger enforcement of equal pay policies, and initiatives that amplify women's voices in media and policymaking."
