U.N. Women’s 2015-2016 annual report highlights the gender-wage gap and explains that it would take about 70 years to eliminate it around the world.
Alice Shackelford, U.N. resident coordinator in Costa Rica, explained that in order to reduce that gap in a 50-year period, specific measures must be applied in state and private enterprises.
The U.N. clarifies that although women make contributions of billions of dollars to both global and local economies, most of them continue to hold unstable and low-paid jobs. In Costa Rica, 23.7% of women aged 15 to 24 years old are neither studying nor working. Only 11.4% of men are in the same situation.
To this date, 29 countries with a 640-million, female population, adopted a gender-sensitive framework for women’s economic empowerment. However, this has not been enough.
Shackelford believes that the main reason for this difference is that women are supposed to be in charge of house chores, children and adults. They spend 37 hours a week on housework, while men spend less than 16 weekly hours.
The challenge is not only to offer work alternatives, but also to provide care alternatives so they can take care of their dependants.
Alejandra Mora, Instituto Nacional de la Mujer’s president, explained that there are several gaps in the working world which are not only related to the wage issue but also to work, leading positions: women have little possibilities to get promoted. This situation is seen in both state and private enterprises.