Women paid less than men in health sector
...Despite making up 67% of workers
The report said much of the wage gap is unexplained, and is perhaps due to discrimination towards women.
Women in the health and care sectors across the globe face a larger gender pay gap than they do in other economic sectors, earning on average 24% less than men.
This is according to a new joint report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), which indicates that in Namibia, women in the health sector are paid 6.8% less than men.
The report took into account factors such as age, education and working time, and noted that the pay gap highlights that women are underpaid for their labour market attributes when compared to men.
"Much of the wage gap is unexplained, perhaps due to discrimination towards women, who account for 67% of health and care workers worldwide."
Predominantly female
The report also found that wages for health and care workers tend to be lower overall when compared with other economic sectors. It said this is consistent with the finding that wages are often lower in economic sectors where women are predominant.
The report noted that differences in age, education, working time and the difference in the participation of men and women in the public or private sectors only address part of the problem.
"The reasons why women are less paid than men with similar labour market profiles in the health and care sectors across the world remain, to a large extent, unexplained by labour market factors,” it said.
Success stories
"Women comprise the majority of workers in the health and care sectors, yet in far too many countries, systemic biases are resulting in pernicious pay penalties against them," Jim Campbell, the WHO’s director of health workforce, said.
"The evidence and analysis in this ground-breaking report must inform governments, employers and workers to take effective action.
"Encouragingly, the success stories in several countries show the way, including wage increases and political commitment to pay equity."
This is according to a new joint report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), which indicates that in Namibia, women in the health sector are paid 6.8% less than men.
The report took into account factors such as age, education and working time, and noted that the pay gap highlights that women are underpaid for their labour market attributes when compared to men.
"Much of the wage gap is unexplained, perhaps due to discrimination towards women, who account for 67% of health and care workers worldwide."
Predominantly female
The report also found that wages for health and care workers tend to be lower overall when compared with other economic sectors. It said this is consistent with the finding that wages are often lower in economic sectors where women are predominant.
The report noted that differences in age, education, working time and the difference in the participation of men and women in the public or private sectors only address part of the problem.
"The reasons why women are less paid than men with similar labour market profiles in the health and care sectors across the world remain, to a large extent, unexplained by labour market factors,” it said.
Success stories
"Women comprise the majority of workers in the health and care sectors, yet in far too many countries, systemic biases are resulting in pernicious pay penalties against them," Jim Campbell, the WHO’s director of health workforce, said.
"The evidence and analysis in this ground-breaking report must inform governments, employers and workers to take effective action.
"Encouragingly, the success stories in several countries show the way, including wage increases and political commitment to pay equity."
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