ISLAMABAD
\nBusinesses should set a minimum goal of achieving 25 percent women employees in overall workforce and in management roles by 2025.
\nThis together with visible action on other sustainable development goals is critical for an inclusive economy and robust business growth in Pakistan, recommends OICCI.
\nThis is one of the key recommendations by the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI), in its position paper on women empowerment titled \u201cIncreasing Women\u2019s Inclusion in the Pakistan Economy \u2013 An OICCI Perspective\u201d. The position paper was presented to the Minister for Human Rights, Dr Shireen Mazari, said a statement issued by OICCI here.
\nOICCI President Irfan Siddique commenting on the key recommendations observed that OICCI members were extremely concerned to note that Pakistan ranks second last for women globally as per Global Gender Parity Report, and that Pakistani women earned roughly 34 percent less than men.
\nFor rectification of the situation, Irfan added, OICCI had compiled a set of recommendations for the government to accelerate women\u2019s employment and career growth in the country.
\nThe OICCI recommendations on women inclusion cover three critical areas: equal opportunity for Pakistani women; protection against workplace harassment; and building inclusive work spaces.
\nHighlighting the key elements of the recommendation on equal opportunity for Pakistani women, Chairman of the OICCI Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee, Sami Ahmed observed OICCI has urged the government to encourage businesses to set a minimum goal of 25% women in management roles by 2025, in all key segments for government and non-government organisations\/businesses employing more than 50 persons.
\nOther recommendations include to give recognition to at least one female leader at the national level to empower women and initiate awards for spotlighting outstanding women business leaders\u2013 mandate equal pay for equal work by adopting gender neutral compensation and benefit structures so as to reduce pay gap and discrimination\u2013 grant tax credit for organisations having female employment at management level beyond a set threshold\u2013 invest in public-private partnerships in education to increase the school enrolment of girls\u2013 and set up gender based scholarships for women in top universities.
\nUnder Building Inclusive Workspaces, the recommendations urge that the government should mandate creation of daycares in workplaces with at least 50 employees\u2013increase federal maternity paid leave from a bare minimum of 16 weeks to 6 months\u2013 to govern provisions of maternity and paternity benefits to employees and most importantly revise Factories Act- 1934 so as to allow female workers to work post sunset to enable women to work at factories in both day and night shifts to create greater inclusion and employment opportunities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Businesses should set a minimum goal of achieving 25 percent women employees in overall workforce and in management roles by 2025. This together with visible action on other sustainable development goals is critical for an inclusive economy and robust business growth in Pakistan, recommends OICCI. This is one of the key recommendations by the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-204040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-business"],"yoast_head":"\n