Gender equality is a critical issue for societies across the globe. The United Nations has acknowledged that gender equality is vital for peaceful societies with viable human potential and sustainable development. Women constitute half of the world’s population, and they represent half of its potential as well. Unfortunately, this indicator masks the reality of millions of women worldwide who are unable to participate in the labor market. The workplace remains inhospitable for women due to various forms of gender inequality, such as unequal pay, disparities in promotions, incidents of sexual harassment, lack of leadership, and racism. These issues contribute to women’s lower socioeconomic status.
In developing nations, most women cannot join the workforce due to childcare obligations, lack of employment that meets their needs for fair treatment, high-quality work, and equal pay, or they want to avoid being segregated into the conventional “women’s” sectors. Therefore, significant efforts must be made to close the gender gap in the workplace. Governments must adopt intelligent policies that drive gender equality in all socioeconomic sectors to achieve greater national productivity, better economic growth, and improved organizational performance.
One country that is facing significant challenges in promoting gender equality is Pakistan. According to the Global Gender Gap report 2022, Pakistan is the second-worst country in terms of gender parity, ranking 145th out of 146 nations. Cultural and social norms surrounding women’s domestic responsibilities, commute outside the home, and interactions with unrelated men set up multiple barriers for women who want to work. Women account for roughly 90% of the bottom 1% of the labor force, and most women work in agriculture, where they face a large labor supply that contributes to their low wages. Women comprise only 10% of non-agricultural workers in the formal private sector. Additionally, the gender wage gap in Pakistan is estimated to be 34%, much higher than the global average of 23%. Moreover, women account for only 4.5% of Pakistan’s senior, managerial, and legislative positions.
While educated women struggle to enter and maintain employment, women with low educational backgrounds face even more barriers. Low literacy levels, mobility challenges, and gender norms prevent women from entering and remaining in the formal labor force. A sizable proportion of women work in the informal sector as home-based workers, where they are vulnerable to exploitation by contractors or middlemen. These workers typically come from poorer families with little to no formal education. They have limited access to markets, training, government services, and workplace amenities, and they have fewer rights and social protection. They face more hazards at work and are given little to no consideration in economic and labor policies.
Furthermore, many women abandon their education due to safety concerns or financial constraints, while others fear facing opposition from family and communities if they work outside the home. Women nearly make up half of Pakistan’s population, and they have the potential to drive positive change, progress, and prosperity at the household, community, and country levels.
According to policymakers, to meet Pakistan’s growth targets, the country’s female labor force participation rate must reach at least 45% of the total labor force. Therefore, the government and businesses must make two sets of efforts: targeted policies to encourage women’s return to the workforce and talent development for women in future industries. Otherwise, there is a risk of permanently eroding previous decades’ gains and missing out on future economic returns from diversity.
Social norms in Pakistani society remain regressive, and gender norms set up barriers for women who want to work. According to the 2019 Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLM) survey, 40% of women require permission from a family member to seek or continue paid employment. Many men forbid women from leaving the house, and if they do, they are accompanied to keep an eye on their behavior and preserve their honor. Women,