ISLAMABAD, March 11 (Alliance News): Pakistan continues to grapple with a significant gender pay gap (GPG), ranking among the countries with the highest disparities in male and female employment rates, according to a report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The report highlights that women in Pakistan earn 25% less than men based on hourly wages, meaning they receive Rs750 for every Rs1,000 earned by men. The gap widens to 30% when considering monthly wages, as women also work fewer hours.
A key concern outlined in the report is that much of this pay gap cannot be attributed to differences in education, skills, or age. Instead, it suggests “potential” discrimination as a major factor behind the disparity.
Pakistan’s gender pay gap remains higher than that of regional counterparts such as Sri Lanka (22%), Nepal (18%), and Bangladesh, where women reportedly earn slightly more than men (-5%). However, the report notes a slight improvement, with the GPG in Pakistan declining from 33% in 2018.
The disparity is most pronounced in informal and household sectors, where the gap exceeds 40%, while it is nearly negligible in the formal economy and public sector due to better compliance with labour laws.
The ILO underscores that despite international conventions promoting equal pay, including the widely ratified Equal Remuneration Convention of 1951, gender wage disparities persist worldwide.
