Women working in low-paying and insecure jobs are higher than men in the private sector. This is according to a report titled Gender Inequality in Bhutan’s Private Sector. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment released the report last month. The report highlights that with the civil service’s declining capacity to absorb most of the graduates, the private sector has become the main driver of job creation.
The report shows a gap in earnings, not just in participation.
Accommodation and food services have the highest women participation but the lowest wage at Nu 12,000.
While sectors like Energy and construction, dominated by men, pay nearly double, with wages above Nu 22,000.
Adding to the challenge, 61.6 per cent of women in the private sector are in insecure own-account work or self-employed without employees or benefits.
The report also shows a qualification mismatch. Women make up only 21 per cent in high-paying STEM fields like Engineering, but 61 per cent in lower-paid fields like Arts, leading to fewer opportunities and less job security.
The report recommends scholarships to promote women in STEM, sector-specific minimum wages in undervalued industries, childcare and flexi-time policies, and to create a gender-friendly workplace.
The report analysed data from more than 64,000 employees in the Bhutan Labour Market Information System.
Sangay Chozom
