ILO cites productivity benefits of gender equality policies

GENDER EQUALITY in the workplace needs to be a priority for governments and the private sector, with such policies expected to improve workplace productivity, the International Labor Organization (ILO) said.

ILO Philippines Country Director Khalid Hasan said at a forum Thursday that enterprises surveyed by the ILO in the Philippines which implemented gender diversity initiatives have reported improved performance.

“Eighty-four percent agreed that gender diversity initiatives enhance businesses outcomes. This is significantly higher than the (average) in the Asia Pacific area region which is 68%,” he said.

He added that of those reporting benefits from implementing gender diversity initiatives, 73% noted increased profitability and productivity. Also cited as benefits by over 50% of those surveyed were an improved ability to attract and retain talent; improved innovation and creativity; elevated company reputation; and increased consumer interest.

Asian Development Bank Gender Equity Chief Samantha Hung said at the forum that minimizing the unequal privileges granted to men and women transforms the work environment as well as the broader society.

“We really need to address a sustainable gender agenda… to really address gender inequality in the workplace which is really about power and in redistributing the power between women and men,” she said.

She added that for the private sector, the bank has introduced policy interventions to address gender gap issues for use by individual human resources departments.

Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo said at the forum that gender equality needs to be a national priority.

“Progress in workplace culture calls us to examine higher leadership practices to abandon tradition that could prevent othering, discrimination, and sexism in the workplace. This also means standing up to the greater societal pressures and stereotypes that have burdened women and other genders for so long,” she said. — Gillian M. Cortez