Women Employment

The low visibility of women in employment sector in Pakistan is usually attributed to cultural factors, discrimination in the labour market and employment in the unorganized sectors. Mostly, women are concentrated in sectors known for low level of productivity with unstable income flow and low job security in view of their dual role at home and workplace. Organized services sector is mostly government service, and provides employment to a small proportion of women. The rate of unemployment among women is higher than that of men, both in rural and urban areas primarily due to socio-cultural norms and low level of education in women. With the increase in educational levels of women, faster growth of women’s employment is observed in all sectors including white-collar jobs. Government machinery, non-governmental organizations and progressive political parties need to focus on the education of women to enhance the status of women in Sindh.

The low visibility of women in the employment sector in Sindh is also attributed to factor such as low level of educating and skills. Entrepreneurial education with skill development may solve the problem of female wage employment and unpaid family helpers.

Minimum Wage

The government has announced a raise in the minimum wages of labour to Rs 17,500 per month for eight hours shift. The degree to which this minimum can support an acceptable living standard, needs to be further examined and minimum wage needs to be enhanced further seeing the increased inflation rate. Furthermore, the minimum wage fixation would be subjected to a tripartite deliberation process at regular intervals to protect the living standards of the workers and wider disposal of growth benefits. Implementation lapses will be focused upon through streamlining the inspection system. Women Development Department has been focusing on the empowerment of women by providing them with all possible facilities and new opportunities.