Decent work and gender equality. Policies to improve employment access and quality for women in Latin America and the Caribbean
This regional report provides a succinct diagnosis of the situation of women in Latin America and the Caribbean, showing both the progress achieved and the continuing problems hindering efforts to close gender gaps. It also describes examples of employment policies that incorporate the gender dimension, offering recommendations for policies that can contribute to gender equity.
The report was prepared collaboratively by the participating agencies. Of particular value were the proposals presented and prior discussions held by the technical teams, the guest specialists and the meetings organized to consult with governments, unions and employers’ organizations, as well as with women’s organizations in the region.
During 2012, in addition to a meeting of experts, seven regional consultation meetings were held at various stages of the preparation of this document, with the support of the Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund. A total of 11 studies were specially prepared to enhance this report, dealing with specific aspects such as women’s working day, the situation of young women, labour markets and employment policies in different regions and countries. These studies will be published online at a later date.
This regional report has four chapters. The first examines the relationship between development and gender equality in light of the recent economic situation and the performance of the region’s countries as regards the role of women in the labour market. Particular attention is paid to female workforce participation, the type and quality of jobs available to women, the gender unemployment gap, underemployment, the sectoral distribution of employed women, social security coverage, informal work, total working time and gender income gaps.
