Pakistan’s Gender Disparity Gap Widens: ILO Report

According to a recent report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), Pakistan has the biggest gap between men and women when it comes to employment in South Asia. Only 23% of women are part of the workforce, compared to 79% of men. Even among the small number of women who do work, most are more educated and are employed in public sector or formal jobs, yet they make up just 13.5% of all paid employees.

The report also highlights a major pay gap between men and women in Pakistan. On average, women earn 25% less per hour and 30% less per month than men. This pay difference is partly because many women work fewer hours, often due to family responsibilities and part-time roles. However, the problem is made worse by poor working conditions in informal sectors and weak implementation of labor rights, especially in private companies.

Compared to neighboring countries, Pakistan’s gender pay gap is much larger. For example, the pay gap is around 22% in Sri Lanka, 18% in Nepal, and in Bangladesh, women even earn slightly more than men. The pay difference in Pakistan is smallest in the public sector where labor laws are followed more strictly. But in informal jobs and agriculture, the gap is much wider, showing that workplace discrimination and job segregation are still big challenges.