Gender sensitivity works in favour of economic growth

Source– The post is based on the article “Gender sensitivity works in favour of economic growth” published in the “mint” on 10th August 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Economy. GS1- Social empowerment

Relevance: Issue related to women economic empowerment

News– The article deals with this issue of sexual harassment of women at workplaces

What are some facts and statistics related to the prevalence of sexual harassment at workplaces across the world?

According to a global survey conducted by ILO in 2022, over one in five individuals employed have faced various forms of violence and harassment at their workplaces.

A study that examined gender equality laws across 193 countries discovered that sexual harassment can occur at any stage of employment and spans across different geographical regions and occupations.

Research further suggests that in the majority of cases (72%), the harassment is done by individuals occupying people in senior positions.

Instances of harassment do impact men. But, women are more than twice as likely to experience gender-based harassment and sexual abuse.

What are the impacts of sexual harassment of women at workplace?

The #MeToo movement  underscores the detrimental consequences of such harassment on women’s economic prospects.

The impact of sexual harassment results in a substantial economic setback.

75% of approximately 2.7 billion women aged 18 and above, along with an estimated 600 million men have fallen victim to this issue.

Research conducted by Chamie in 2018 estimated the overall financial consequences of this problem at approximately $2.8 billion.

For individual women affected by this phenomenon, lifetime financial losses were projected to range from $600,000 to over $1.3 million. It is  indicated by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and Time’s UP Foundation in 2021.

Furthermore, the long-term repercussions encompass depressive disorders, reduced engagement, premature departures from jobs, and hindrances in career progression.

What are challenges in dealing with sexual harassment at workplaces?

The instances of workplace sexual harassment are significantly underreported. It is primarily due to concerns about potential reprisals or a perception that addressing the issue won’t yield positive outcomes.

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission noted that a majority of harassed employees from 1995 to 2016 did not report the incidents.

Similarly, a 2017 BBC survey revealed that over half of the victims chose not to disclose their experiences.

In 2021, the number of countries offering some level of protection against retaliation increased to 103.

Despite these advancements, women of working age across the Middle East and North Africa, as well as half in East Asia and the Pacific, and one-third in Latin America and the Caribbean still have no legal protection.

What are the steps taken by various countries to address this issue?

Some nations have introduced legislation aimed at limiting the utilization of confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements. It can be employed to suppress victims’ voices.

Certain US states have implemented new sexual harassment prevention policies. Hong Kong has recently broadened the scope of protection through a revised code of practice.

In the UK, there is now a legal obligation for employers to prevent harassment. It is backed by a statutory code of conduct.

Even major corporations like Microsoft have established dedicated employee advocacy teams.

What is the situation in India?

India has a codified legislation, known as the PoSH Act. However, this law has faced criticism for addressing violence against women in a fragmented manner.

Moreover, the Act has had limited impact on the extensive female workforce in the country’s informal sector.

A recent online survey by BBC indicated that over 52% of Indian women and girls surveyed had declined educational and job opportunities due to feelings of insecurity.

Researchers have previously estimated that India’s GDP could potentially rise to nearly $6 trillion by 2050 if the existing employment gap of 58 percentage points between men and women is eliminated (Bloomberg Economics).

In 2019, the ILO adopted a landmark international treaty (C190) on violence and harassment at work, India voted for it in 2019, but is yet to ratify it.