UN WOMEN EAST AND ESARO LAUNCH THE REPORT ‘WHY WOMEN EARN LESS: GENDER PAY GAP AND OTHER LABOUR MARKET INEQUALITIES IN EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA’
UN Women East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) launched the report ‘Why Women Earn Less: Gender Pay Gap and Other Labour Market Inequalities in East and Southern Africa’. This is a landmark study that sheds light on the persistent challenges women face in the labour market across the region. The study used data from 10 countries – Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa – and found that women only earn 81 cents for every US dollar earned by men in the region, on an hourly basis. Considering other factors that determine pay, such as age, education, marital status and type of job, women earn 92 cents less for every dollar that men earn per hour. Because women work for lesser hours in paid employment than men, on a monthly basis, women earn 68 cents for every US dollar that men earn. The report also found striking sectoral and occupational segregation by gender, and evidence of a glass ceiling.
The findings of the report were first unveiled at an Equality Café, held on 12th September in Nairobi. Equality Café is a forum facilitated by UN Women for collaboration among journalists and influencers, and it serves to train, inform, discuss, and foster media partnerships that promote gender equality. The event featured a panel discussion with experts from ILO, Stanbic Bank, National Media Group, and the State Department of Gender and Affirmative Action, Government of Kenya. They discussed strategies for addressing the gender pay gap. The event was a success with attendees from ALN Academy, Radio Africa, Trans World Radio, Capital FM, and KBC, amongst others. The event gained coverage by Capital FM and Trans World Radio.
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