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SECOND MEETING OF THE WORKING GROUPS OF THEOEA/Ser.L/XIX.VI.2

XIII INTER-AMERICAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS CIMT/GT1-GT2/doc.12/05

OF LABOR (IACML)6 April 2005

April 11-13, 2005Original: Spanish

Buenos Aires, Argentina

PRESENTATION OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION OF WOMEN (CIM)

Mercedes Kremenetzky, Senior Specialist, CIM

  • Remarks from Mercedes Kremenetzky
  • Annex 1: Plan of Action of the Summit of the Americas. Proposals for Gender Integration at the Fourth Summit (CIM/doc.5/04)
  • Annex 2: Agents, Financing, and experiences in the area of the development of productive activities and trade for women (CIM/doc.18/04)

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Second Meeting of the Working Groups in the Framework of the XIII Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor (IACML)

Presentation by the Inter-American Commission of Women

If gender equality is to be achieved...a series of gender equity measures must be taken to offset the historical and social disadvantages that prevent women’s equal enjoyment of the benefits of development and equal participation in public and private decision-making and in power structures. Gender equity is, thus, a path that leads to gender equality. The Inter-American Program on the Promotion of Women’s Human Rights and Gender Equity and Equality is intended to further this process. (IAP)

In 2000, at their General Assembly, the Member States of the OAS assumed the commitment of integrating a gender perspective in their public policies, strategies, and projects as a means of achieving the full and equal participation of women and men in all aspects of social development, politics, and culture. This commitment was expressed in the gender policy document entitled the Inter-American Program on the Promotion of Women’s Human Rights and Gender Equity and Equality, or IAP. The Inter-American Commission of Women was charged with monitoring the IAP and coordinating and evaluating the actions that were taken to implement it. During the Third Summit of the Americas, the program, and the commitment that it represents, was endorsed by the democratically elected Heads of State and Government of the Hemisphere.

The gender policy adopted by the 2000 OAS General Assembly is in step with the global movement to recognize the importance of achieving equity and equality between women and men. The Millennium Goals, adopted in September of 2000, include, “promot[ing] gender equality and the empowerment of women as effective ways to combat poverty, hunger and disease and to stimulate development that is truly sustainable.”

Faithful to this transcendental objective, the IAP recommended that the Governments (1.5) and the OAS General Secretariat (2.1.2), systematically incorporate a gender perspective in the agendas of ministerial-level meetings. To promote implementation of this mandate in the area of Labor, the CIM presented recommendations on integrating a gender perspective into the XII IACML, and has since continued to participate in technical meetings of the working groups so that these recommendations may be put into practice.

In a comparative context, the agreements on integrating a gender perspective in labor policy show significant advances between the XI and XII IACML. The XI IACML touches upon the issue in a general manner, leaving space in order to incorporate some measures and actions relevant to the situation of women workers. Yet, it does not specify actions for eliminating gender inequalities and only makes reference to the incorporation of women as members of a vulnerable class or belonging to a group with specific needs.

The XXII IACML, adopting the recommendations of the CIM and the mandates of the Plan of Action of the Third Summit of the Americas in regards to Gender Equality (15) and Labor and Employment (11), assumed the commitment of "[integrating] a gender perspective into the development and implementation of all labor policies, to promote work-life balance, to protect the rights of women workers, and to take action to remove structural and legal barriers, as well as stereotypical attitudes to gender equality at work; to address gender bias in recruitment, working conditions, occupational segregation and harassment, discrimination in social protection benefits, women’s occupational health and safety, unequal career opportunities and pay."

This approach is particularly important because it shifts the focus of policies and actions from the aspect of women’s vulnerability towards addressing the mechanisms that sustain persistent gender inequality in the workplace. This approach facilitates the implementation of politically institutionalized policies and strategies to promote the elimination of exclusion mechanisms and work discrimination.

However, this progress was not consistent, and the following Ministerial, the XII IACML, did not continue to advance the implementation of these policies. Although there is a sentence in the Declaration at the end of paragraph 10 that reaffirms the commitment to integrate a gender perspective in the development and implementation of all labor policies, the Plan of Action (point D), refers to the issue of women's integration only in terms of their participation in "employment programs aimed at vulnerable groups such as women, adolescents, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities; programs for public credit, microfinance, etc."

As the CIM expressed during its presentations at the meetings of the Working Groups held in Montevideo in 2003 and in Washington in 2004, advances in gender equality and equity can only materialize through measures that have continuity and are conceived as long term policies. Therefore, it is critical that in the recommendations of the preparatory meetings, and in the future meetings of IACML, a gender perspective is integrated as a cross-cutting and permanent issue in both the Plans of Action and the Declarations.

It is in this context, that we must emphasize the importance of integrating a gender perspective in the next Summit of the Americas, whose theme is “Creating Employment to Confront Poverty and Strengthen Democratic Governance.”

Women constitute 60 to 70% of the poor world-wide. In our region, the percentage of poor and indigent persons reaches 42.9% and 18.6% respectively, the majority of the affected being women. The feminization of poverty is tied to various factors, among them:

- The growing number of poor women heads of households, who usually have less secure employment and earn lower wages while bearing the brunt of the reproductive burden in their households and communities.

- Unemployment rates of women, especially young women, are much higher than that of men;

- Women’s salaries continue to be considered complimentary, and are therefore 30% less than men’s.

- Women have limited access to productive resources such as work, land, capital, information, new technologies, natural resources and housing, all of which hinders their capacity to earn income. Their participation in decision-making in their communities is also limited.

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Similarly, poor women principally work in the informal sector and in low-paying jobs in the agricultural and service sectors. Generally speaking, they work fewer years than men and thus have less possibilities of participating in social security systems. Another element to be considered is the issue of violence, which increases women’s vulnerability and insecurity and has a negative effect on their work and the well-being of their family. Additionally, violence against women generates high costs for the State.

In spite of the difficulties confronted by poor women, studies have shown that the income that they earn can yield higher health and social benefits than that earned by men, because women tend to invest resources, scarce though they may be, in health, education, and the well-being of their children and family. For this reason, there can be no doubt as to the importance of integrating a gender perspective in the elaboration and implementation of labor policies and programs that are aimed at reducing poverty. The access of women to productive and decent work and the adoption of measures that support their multiple roles as producers and reproducers are key strategies for achieving effective results.

On the other hand, discrimination persists in the workplace and in family life. Regional statistics indicate that the female labor force is increasingly educated and that many women have risen to high level positions. However, women still experience higher rates of unemployment and earn less income than men. As pointed out in CEPAL’s 9th Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean, which took place in June of 2004, all countries within the region still need to improve the quality of education (including policies to reduce drop-out and repetition rates), eliminate occupational and professional segmentation, and increase access to higher education, new technologies, science, and research. Similarly, it should be taken into consideration that regional averages conceal that many women are illiterate, that many girls drop out of school because of teenage pregnancy, and that a large proportion of indigenous, Afro-descendant, and rural girls and women continue to be marginalized.

Poverty reduction and the elimination of gender discrimination is a multi-dimensional task, requiring a multi-sectoral approach. Thus, the CIM’s recommendations to the Fourth Summit (Annex 1 of this document) specifically focus on education, labor and trade as key areas for the economic empowerment of women, for confronting poverty and for strengthening democratic governance. The policy spectrum can be expanded from each of these perspectives, but the objective is to prioritize the ones that address the three fields; in other words, educational policy instruments that reinforce the incorporation of women into the labor market, linked to exportable productive activities.

Additionally, the CIM has also presented to this meeting an accompanying document on the agents and challenges for financing policy that incorporates a gender perspective. It also includes successful experiences of the inclusion of women in productive work activities and its effect on international trade. Currently, a third document is being prepared on gender and access to decent work which will be shared with this Secretariat when it is finalized.

ANNEX 1

XXXII ASSEMBLY OF DELEGATESOEA/Ser.L/II.2.32

27 – 29 October, 2004CIM/doc.5/04

Washington, D.C.27 September 2004

Original: English

Plan of Action of the Summit of the Americas –

Proposals for Gender Integration at the Fourth Summit[1]

(Item 2 - Dialogue of the Heads of Delegation)

The Plans of Action approved by the Summits of the Americas have all approached the integration of a gender perspective differently. Although there has been an increased focus on gender equity and equality as central and important for all member states, the issue has yet to be fully integrated as a cross cutting theme into all areas addressed in these forums. Women have been mentioned in general terms or included with disadvantaged or vulnerable populations. Their contribution to society and their potential have not been fully taken into account and a gender perspective has not been fully integrated in topics such as human rights, property, trade and investment, among others.

The Special Summit of the Americas, held in Monterrey, México in 2004, reiterates that “the empowerment of women, their full and equal participation in the development of our societies, and their equal opportunities to exercise leadership are fundamental for the reduction of poverty, the promotion of economic and social prosperity, and for people-centered sustainable development”. The governments reiterated their commitment to “continue promoting gender equality and equity and the mandates of the Summits of the Americas on this matter”.

The next Summit of the Americas has as its theme, “Creating Employment to Confront Poverty and Strengthen Democratic Governance.” The Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM), as technical advisor to the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) on all aspects of gender equity and equality, was mandated to formulate recommendations on gender mainstreaming to be included in the Summit preparation process. In this context, and to implement the Inter-American Program on the Promotion of Women’s Human Rights and Gender Equity and Equality (IAP), the CIM has also made recommendations to the Ministerial Meetings of Labor, Justice, Education, and Science and Technology.

Because poverty reduction is a multi-dimensional task, requiring a multi-sectoral approach, the CIM’s recommendations to the Fourth Summit specifically focus on education, labor and trade, as key areas for the economic empowerment of women, for confronting poverty and for strengthening democratic governance.

The policy spectrum can be expanded from each of these perspectives, but the objective is to prioritize the ones that address the three fields; in other words, educational policy instruments that reinforce the incorporation of women into the labor market, linked to exportable productive activities

I.Gender Inequalities in Education and the Labor Market

Gender inequalities persist in the areas of education and employment.

Education is the principal mechanism for social mobility, integration, and overcoming poverty, and occupies a privileged space in promoting cultural changes, thus facilitating the attainment of gender equity. The following table summarizes the current status of gender and education in the region.

EDUCATION AND GENDER
LEVEL / DIAGNOSIS
General / Increase in enrollment rates at all levels.
Primary education / No significant gender bias.
Secondary and technical education / Higher failure/drop-out rates for girls than for boys. Youth labor, together with early pregnancies, are the main reasons that girls drop out of secondary school.
Higher education / Segregation in selection of studies.

With regard to gender and labor, the labor market is the fundamental space where equal opportunities between men and women are possible, and where many advances have been made in recent decades throughout the world, but where shortcomings are still seen. The labor situation of women is directly linked to education and training.

Insertion into the labor force determines many areas of life for both men and women, ranging from their economic independence and the decision-making potential that it implies, to the possibility of enjoying an old age under the protection of either public or private formal health care and pension systems.

There has been a substantive increase in the work force participation rate of women, although it is still less than for men. The greatest increase has been for less educated women. This has been the trend since the 1960s, and it is expected to continue in the coming years.

LABOR MARKET AND GENDER

ASPECTS / DIAGNOSIS
Incorporation in the labor market / Lower female employment rates, despite an increase in recent decades.
Unemployment / Higher rates of unemployment, especially among young workers and workers with middle-level skills.
Wage gaps / Based on differences in qualifications or skills, as well as pure gender discrimination.
Job selection / Importance of segregation of the sexes by occupations.
Part-time work / Feminization of part-time jobs. It is not know whether or not it is what women want.
Seasonal work / Depends on the productive sector (very prevalent in agriculture and tourism.
Informal job market / Greater presence of women, especially in areas such as agriculture, retail sales, handicrafts, sales of food, house-keeping services, etc.
Labor rights / As a result of biological, cultural, and social conditions, women as a whole are more likely to lose their jobs, and to suffer harassment, etc.
Business owners / Difficulties in owning their own businesses, because of reduced access to financing and the means of production.

The quality of female employment is far from what it is for males, from the standpoint of such factors as productivity, remuneration, job stability, the existence of contracts, respect for work hours, hygiene, health risk coverage, pensions, among others.

II. Gender and Trade Issues

Inclusion of a gender perspective in trade issues is based on an extremely important limitation linked to the fact that, to a great extent, women work in jobs that are non-negotiable and non-marketable internationally, such as the retail trade, care of the home, children, and the elderly, education, health services, and the like.

It is possible to look at the quality of the international insertion of the region and to focus mainly on groups where there is a larger participation of women, such as low-technology manufacturing, and specifically textiles, without neglecting the rest.

Latin America and the Caribbean as a whole have slightly increased their participation in the world market, from 5.78% to 6.29% of total international trade during the period 1985-2001. The most important factors are natural resources and based on them, although the production of process goods not based on natural resources has proven to be the most dynamic sector, and especially those requiring mid-level and high technology. This fact, which is very positive for the region, means, however, that attention must be drawn to gender policies. The most feminized sectors are not only the ones that contribute the lowest added value, but are also the ones which, in commercial terms, are losing their vitality and momentum in the development of trade in manufactures.

Free trade has led to an increase in the participation of women in the labor market in several countries, especially through participation in the “maquila” sector. The lower wages paid to women workers serve to attract direct foreign investment. However, it is important to bear in mind that this type of insertion in the international market leads countries to a situation of unequal growth.

III.Identification of Weaknesses, Threats, Strengths, and Opportunities

The following table schematically presents information on outside threats and opportunities -which cannot be directly controlled by national governments- and internal strengths and weaknesses- where national or regional governments could intervene- in the fields of education, the labor market, and production and trade. It is important to bear in mind that many of the factors identified as belonging to the internal scenario are also present on a worldwide basis.

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