COVID-19 requires gender-equal responses to save economies

Gender equality concept as woman hands holding a white paper sheet with male and female symbol over a crowded city street background. Sex sign as a metaphor of social issue.By External SourceGENEVA, Apr 2 2020 (IPS-Partners) Globally, women are more vulnerable to economic shocks wrought by crises such as the coronavirus pandemic. Why are women so at risk? Firstly, women are more likely to lose their jobs than men. In many countries, women’s participation in the labour market is often in the form of temporary employment. Across the world, women represent less than 40% of total employment but make up 57% of those working on a part-time basis, according to the International Labor Organization. As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic roll through economies, reducing employment opportunities and triggering layoffs, temporary workers, the majority of whom are women, are expected to bear the heaviest brunt of job losses. Part time employment (as % of total employment) Source: ILOStat – Percentage of respondents who report borrowing any money in the previous 12 months (by themselves or together with someone else) to start, operate, or expand a farm or business (% age 15+). Safety nets not wide enough Many women will not be rescued by social safety nets. as access to safety nets frequently depends upon a formal participation in the labour force. But since women tend to work without clear terms of employment, they often are not entitled to reliable social protection such a...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Gender Health Source Type: news