Workshop on Promoting Gender Responsive Practice at Workplace

A two-day training programme on Promoting Gender Responsive Practice at Workplace organised by Employers Federation of Pakistan in collaboration with International Labour Organisation (ILO) with the support of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been started here on Thursday at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Speaking on the occasion President Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) Haji Muhammad Javed said this workshop is a part of its collaboration under "Towards Gender Parity in Pakistan (TGP)" project. Gender equality and empowerment of women are essential to overcome poverty, he said. Hence, understanding of the vital links between decent work and poverty reduction has made gender equality a priority for today, he added.
He dwelt upon gender equality in employment sector as it is a shared responsibility of government, private sector and civil society, for each has a distinct role and approach. This training will enable the participants to understand the basic concepts related to gender equality, increase their knowledge on gender responsive work practice, acquire tools and skills in gender mainstreaming and understand gender specific ILO conventions, he said.
Addressing the workshop ILO representative said the employment rate of women has reached to 53 percent globally while in Pakistan women's share in national income is less than 20 percent due to imbalance in gender equality. The aims of the ILO are to promote their rights at work, provide decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues, he said.
ILO standards which have become the catalyst for new economic and legal norms affecting working women cover like of remuneration, discrimination in employment and occupation, maternity protection, workers with family responsibilities and special measures relating to night shifts and underground work, etc, he added.
He said that gender equality is a set of actions, attitudes and assumption that provide opportunities and create expectation about individuals adding that in our definition of gender equality, gender is never separate from race, ethnicity, language, disability, income or other diversities that define us as human beings. The two-day workshop is being attended by females and males belonging to business community.