The Expert Committee on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) of the ILO recently published a study titled “Achieving Gender Equality at Work.” This study highlighted the extent of inequalities between men and women in the workplace. The study examined three fundamental ILO conventions: Convention No. 111 concerning discrimination (employment and occupation), Convention No. 156 on workers with family responsibilities, and Convention No. 183 on the protection of maternity. While only 20 out of the 187 ILO member states have ratified these three conventions, many countries have implemented specific measures to combat gender-related inequalities.
The study emphasizes the ongoing challenge for women in balancing their work and family responsibilities, particularly concerning childcare and family caregiving. Paid parental leave, flexible working conditions, and access to affordable, high-quality childcare services are considered essential to enable women to fully participate in the labor market. Additionally, maternity protection and the elimination of gender-based discrimination are crucial elements to ensure equality and fairness in the professional sphere.
Employers’ organizations and workers’ organizations play a crucial role in promoting gender equality in the workplace. Their active involvement is essential to build enduring and balanced professional relationships between men and women. By implementing key ILO conventions and engaging in concrete actions, a qualitative global change can be achieved, thus progressing towards effective gender equality and decent work for all, insists the study.
The ILO’s study on gender equality at work is a call to action. Inequalities between men and women persist in professional environments worldwide, hindering women’s full participation in the workforce. The lack of adequate paid parental leave, flexible working conditions, and affordable access to childcare services often hinders women in their career advancement. Maternity and paternity leave, combined with family-friendly policies, must become the norm to ensure better gender equality at work.
The ILO urges member states to ratify fundamental conventions aimed at promoting gender equality at work. Currently, only 20 out of 187 countries have ratified these conventions. It is imperative for more countries to commit to eliminating gender inequalities and ensuring maternity protection. Concrete measures, such as extending maternity leave and creating family-friendly working conditions, need to be adopted globally, emphasize the experts.
Leaders of the United Nations General Assembly Express their Engagement:
During an event organized on September 18 at the United Nations General Assembly in New York by the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC), the United States, Iceland, various UN agencies, the OECD, and other organizations made firm commitments to reduce the pay gap between men and women. This initiative, orchestrated by EPIC, aims to establish global pay parity. It is part of the ILO’s Equal Remuneration Convention of 1951.
These commitments represent a significant advancement in the fight against wage disparities between genders. According to the ILO’s Global Wage Report 2018/19, women earn on average about 20% less than men, a concerning reality that varies from country to country.
Commenting on these new commitments, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo stated, “The ILO will leverage a system-wide approach through the Global Coalition for Social Justice to accelerate progress towards SDG target 8.5; it will update EPIC’s global legal database with the latest available information on pay equality; and it will expand EPIC’s network with the goal of attracting an additional 18 members, bringing the number of members from 57 to 75.”
Representatives of international organizations leading EPIC, such as ILO, UN Women. The OECD, also, affirmed that they will continue working with governments, civil society, and the private sector to reduce the pay gap between men and women in over 20 countries worldwide, including through the Gender Equality Accelerator. The implementation of these commitments will significantly boost efforts to combat wage disparities between men and women, marking a substantial step toward a fairer society.
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