Only 5 percent of highly educated women work: ILO

Women in Bangladesh earn on average 22 to 25 percent less than men even while working in the same labour market. In other words, if a man earns Tk 1,000 a month, a woman earns an average of Tk 750 to Tk 780 for the same type of work. Even after taking education, age, occupation and type of work into consideration, there is no reasonable explanation for this wage gap. Additionally, only 5 percent of the country's highly educated women work.

This information about Bangladesh's labour market has emerged in a research report by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The report, titled 'The Gender Pay Gap in Bangladesh: Trends, Causes and Policy Options', analysed data from the 2023 Labour Force Survey. The report was recently published by the ILO.

An important observation of the report is that direct or indirect discrimination may play a role behind the gender wage gap.

Women lag behind in employment
The ILO says that in 2023, the employment rate for men in Bangladesh was 77.9 percent, while for women it was 40.2 percent. In other words, the gap in employment rates is 37.7 percentage points. Only 19 percent of working women are wage-employed. For men, this rate is 48 percent.

A major contrast is also seen in education. About 35 percent of the country's highly educated population are women. However, only 5 percent of these highly educated women work.

More work, less pay for women
Women work more in comparatively low-wage occupations. Of women's wage employment, 41 percent is in the manufacturing sector, where the rate for men is 23 percent. Additionally, 19 percent of women work in domestic work and 12 percent in the education sector.

Women's presence at the management level is also very low. Of those working in management positions in the country, only 6.2 percent are women. In South Asia, this rate averages 10.8 percent, and the global average is 30 percent.

A large portion of wage workers are engaged in informal work. For men, this rate is 91 percent, and for women, 87 percent.

Women lag behind due to household work burden
The ILO report said that although both women and men are involved in household work, women spend much more time on it. After returning home from work outside, women spend an average of 27.7 hours a week on household work. For men, this time is only 7.7 hours.

On the other hand, men work an average of 51.9 hours a week at the workplace, while women work 46 hours. A total of 77 percent of women work at least 40 hours a week. For men, this rate is 90 percent.

The ILO report said that due to spending more time on household work, women's opportunities to take higher-paying jobs and advance in their careers become limited.

ILO's observations on wage discrimination
Bangladesh's Constitution guarantees equal rights for men and women. The labour law also provides for equal pay for the same type of work. However, the ILO says the practical application of this equal pay provision is limited.

The report further said that not all sectors are equally considered in determining the minimum wage. Whether there is gender bias in the evaluation of the work in which women participate more is also not clearly considered in the current wage determination system.

The report noted that the gender wage gap is not caused solely by different wages for the same work. Weaknesses in wage determination, women's greater participation in low-wage work, the extra burden of household work and the overall low-wage labour market are also linked to it.

Overall, the ILO report said various structural, institutional and social factors are at work behind the gender wage gap.

The report recommended implementing the policy of equal pay for the same work, introducing a neutral method for job evaluation, considering gender discrimination in minimum wage determination, reviewing provisions for maternity and paternity leave, ensuring safety and preventing harassment at the workplace, and strengthening labour inspection and dispute resolution systems.