Gender pay gap

The gender pay gap in Pakistan remains a pressing issue, reflecting deep-rooted inequalities that hinder the nation's progress. According to a recent ILO report, the pay gap in Pakistan is about 25% when measured by hourly wages and an even more significant 30% when calculated monthly. This indicates that for every Rs1,000 earned by men, women doing the same job are making only Rs700 to Rs750. Such disparities highlight not just economic inequities, but also the pervasive nature of gender-based discrimination in the workplace. While the report notes a gradual improvement in the margin — from 33% in 2018 to 25% today — this change is still insufficient, especially in a country that is already failing to attract a sufficient number of women into the workforce. Women's labour force participation is appallingly low at 15.5%, and convincing more women to work — and their relatives to let them — depends heavily on their ability to earn fair wages. The pay gap varies drastically across different segments of the labour market, with the highest disparities evident in informal sectors, where the gap exceeds 40%. In contrast, the formal sector shows a much smaller gap, coming close to zero for government jobs, which clearly illustrates that labour protections such as gender-blind hiring and promotion policies can effectively reduce wage inequality. It is also worth noting that women working in informal sectors are not only underpaid but are also more susceptible to abuse and harassment by employers and coworkers alike. Another unfortunate observation is that even in sectors where women are generally 'safe', such as agriculture — since women usually work on family-owned farms — rural women are also grossly underpaid compared to their male counterparts. As Pakistan strives for economic growth and development, addressing the gender pay gap must be a priority. Empowering women through education and fair wages is not just a moral imperative but also a critical factor in fostering a robust and equitable economy.

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