Recognise women's contribution to GDP

Women's engagement in household work largely goes unnoticed, undervalued and unrecognised. Such practice contributes to inequity in socio-economic power as well as violence and discrimination against women.

Speakers at a policy dialogue titled “Inclusion of Women's Unaccounted Work in the National GDP” made the observation yesterday.

Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) organised the discussion to draw attention of the government and policymakers so the contribution of women's unpaid productive and unproductive household work in the National GDP could be duly recognised. 

MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam presided over the dialogue while Shamsul Alam, member of General Economic Division of the Planning Commission, was the chief guest at the programme held in the capital's Brac Centre.

Achievement in terms of women's employment and education has been tremendous over the last few decades, but a woman still does not enjoy equal status even within her family, let alone outside of it, said Banasree Mitra Neogi, gender adviser to MJF.

“If women's contribution to the society is valued”, they will enjoy an elevated status that would in turn help reduce violence and discrimination against them.

Many speakers discussed different methodologies and approaches to estimate the value of women's unpaid work.

However, Selim Jahan, director of Human Development Office of the UNDP in New York, said once the value of women's work -- be it in agriculture or rearing of livestock or providing care at home -- is included in the GDP, it will earn recognition and appreciation. As a result, the need for redistribution of such work will come up in discussions.

Care work is invaluable for human development as well as for their economic growth because it improves the abilities of children who later join the labour force, he added.

Speaking as the chief guest, Shamsul Alam said the government is sensitive to the issue of women's empowerment. It has taken various measures in this regard and it is willing to do more for women in days to come.

Rizwanul Islam, former special adviser for employment sector at International Labour Organisation in Geneva, said although the society has a widely accepted conception about gender-biased roles, women's safety at work needs to be addressed and they should be given fair opportunity to move up the hierarchy for their financial advancement.

MJF Executive Director Shaheen Anam said rural women are behind a large part of agricultural activities and so the credit for the nation being food independent should go to them. However, their contribution remains uncounted for and unrecognised.    

The MJF has been campaigning for three years to bring the issue of women's household work into discussion, she added.

The speakers emphasised redistribution of care work so that more women can join the labour force -- a phenomenon that would eventually help increase the country's economic growth.

Women's unpaid work subsidises the cost of care and it supports economies, but the work goes unpaid and often unrecognised, said Mia Seppo, UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh.

Hossain Zillur Rahman, former adviser to a caretaker government and executive chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre, also spoke.