Introduction
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The
implications of ERSAP on women’s employment
in general as well as in Egypt cannot be
separated from the prevailing social norms
and existing socio- economic policies in
Egypt. It reflects females vulnerability in
general, the sexual division of labor, the
neglect of unpaid domestic work and the
neglect of unpaid work outside as well as
inside the house in general. Females’
vulnerability is reflected on the specific
occupations females are engaged in which are
suited to their reproductive role in the
society like teaching and nursing in
general. Their presence in agricultural work
is part of their responsibilities at home,
which are unpaid while the informal sector
is the last resort for the illiterates and
those, who are enforced to work by economic
conditions. Meanwhile problems of females
employment cannot be separated from the
general labor market conditions. |
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Significant
Recommendations to improve the status of women in the
labor market during economic policy changes
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Following aspects are
significant to improve the status of women in the labor
market during economic policy changes: |
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Conducting periodic gender
sensitive survey to provide the needed information about
size and characteristics of women's contribution to
economic activities, their location, problems and
challenges. The definition of contribution of women in
economic activities should differ from the traditional
definition of work to include all activities of women
whether inside or outside their homes, to help their
husbands or on their own. Females’ work in the informal
and agricultural areas should be studied to examine
women's vulnerability from all aspects. These surveys
are also needed to understand females’ working career,
entry points and turnovers in various institutions. |
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Meanwhile increasing
women's participation in the formal private sector can
be enhanced by providing childcare centers to reduce the
burden of role conflicting for female. Community
childcare projects provide nutrition and health services
for children. |
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Implementation of
legislations to ensure that discrimination against women
in the workplace is illegal especially with the
privatization wave in Egypt. |
In addition the affirmative measures adopted in some
countries are effective in protecting women from the
negative effects of ERSAP. For example in Bangladesh
there is a certain ratio of government jobs were
reserved for women (Human Development Report,1993).
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A sector focused strategy
is required to enhance self employment as a channel to
increase the contribution of women in the labor market
This strategy seeks to address the specific problems
confronting the various enterprises and the self
employed within one or several economic sectors,
industries trade groups or occupations. The organization
must become an active participant by undertaking a range
of interventions in marketing input supply technology
training and credit. |
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The lack of assets is a
constraint against productive employment for the poor,
the vulnerable groups of ERSAP. Thus credits for the
female poor are effective measures to enable them to
obtain the needed assets. Mobile credit offices
especially in rural areas are efficient means to lower
transaction costs. Group lending may be a solution of
lack of collateral in addition to simplified application
procedures for obtaining a credit. Hiring staff from
client communities facilitates the communication with
the borrowing community. Additional effective
measurement are short loan terms, the extension of very
small loans to meet day to day financial requirements of
women's business, full repayment of one loan brings
access to another, limitation of time between
application and disbursement and the development of a
public image that credits are for the poor. Credit
cooperatives provide women with the necessary capital,
producer cooperatives help women to get better prices
for their goods and legal services enable women in the
informal sector to have legal benefits. |
Training programs are also effective in increasing the
abilities of women to obtain productive employment
opportunities and to alleviate job segregation in the
private sector.
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Establishing self employed women's association (SEWA) is
a successful experience to help and promote poor women
in many developing countries like India. SEWA is an
important step to enhance sustainability in poverty
alleviation programs. SEWA draw its membership from very
poor female categories like petty vendors, casual
laborer. These organizations aim to enhance women's
income earning opportunities as well as their working
environment by providing credits, training and
appropriate technology. They help women in several
forms:
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Implementing an area focused strategy is important to
help poor women to enter into the labor market. This
strategy offers a comprehensive range of services to a
target of females to enable them to participate in
economic activities. The program must provide or
identify externally a wide range of services including
skills training credit marketing assistance basic
education family planning, health and nutritional
services.
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Safety net programs are needed for those who are
excluded by the market during ERSAP.
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Finally the awareness of the importance of women's
contribution in economic activities should be increased.
Productive employment for females should not be only
regarded as a condition for the survival of their
households like the unpaid work that most women
undertake in rural areas, but rather as an addition to
the role of women to raise their status in the society.
Only if the women’s role in increasing the welfare of
their families will be recognized the society will be
ready to protect them during socioeconomic policy |
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Commonwealth Secretariat (1993) "Mitigating the
social costs of adjustment: the vital role of transfers,
safety nets and other social provisions" , paper for
Commonwealth Secretariat Asian Regional Seminar on
Structural Adjustment, Economic Change and Women, 5-8
January 1993 . Cornia, G; F. Stewart & R. Jolly (eds)
(1987) Adjustment with a Human Face: Protecting the
Vulnerable and Promoting Growth. A study by UNICEF.
(Oxford: Clarendon Press )
Van Ginneken W. (2003)
Extending Social Security: Policies for Developing Countries. ESS N° 13, (Geneva, ILO, Social Security
Policy and Development Branch
United Nations ( 1994 )
Commission on the Status Of Women Thirty-Eighth Session,
New York, 7-18 March 1994 ( New York : United Nations )
Palmer, Ingrid (1994) "Social and Gender Issues in
Macro-economic Policy Advice" Social Policy Series
No. 13 ( Eschborn : GTZ )
Bourguignon, F. and Morrisson, C. (1992) Adjustment and
Equity in Developing Countries: A New Approach (Paris:
Development Centre, Organization of Economic
Co-operation and Development)
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