Invest more to ensure gender equity

The country's export processing zones should invest more for their women workers to ensure and better gender equity, enhance productivity and improve their living conditions, which will pay dividends in the long run, said a top official.
Female workers account for 64 percent of the 272,000 workers employed in the country's eight export processing zones (EPZs), and they are recognisably better off, well-paid, get salaries and other perks regularly and enjoy annual increments compa-red to their peers elsewhere in the country.
“However, there are areas where we can improve upon,” said Narissa Haider, associate operations officer of International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Dhaka.
“We are working with Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (Bepza), factory owners in the EPZs and various government agencies to help disseminate information about the present situations to recommend areas of improvement,” she told a group of journalists at her office in the city.
“Our goal is to raise awareness among workers, owners, buyers and government agencies about the need to address the issues,” she said. The owners should understand the problems faced by the workers and address them, which will pay dividends later, she added. “Investing in women workers will definitely help them.”
“From our longstanding experience, we have found that women invest more in education and nutrition for their children, repay loans and save more compared to men. They are more likely to reinvest in their community.”
Narissa said improved gender equity is correlated with reductions in chronic illness, stunted and impaired cognitive development among children and household poverty. “It also helps reducing absenteeism, enhancing workers' loyalty, attracting and retaining workers and improved productivity.”
The IFC official said they have identified key obstacles to women's economic participation in the areas of legal protection and enforcement; social and cultural factors that include education, health, childcare, living conditions; upward mobility or professional advancement and entrepreneurship.
She said few countries have robust laws prohibiting sexual harassment at the workplace. “Besides, women require additional protections as employees, such as maternity leave and childcare.”