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ILO. Bureau for Employers' Activities. Employers' organizations taking the lead on gender equality. Case studies from 10 countries. ACT/EMP N°43. Ginebra, 2005. 85p.

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Gender equality is an important issue for society, and no one should be in any doubt that very many employers worldwide have been instrumental in attaining greater levels of equality between women and men at work.

The case studies presented in this publication provide insights into the efforts that are being made in this respect by employers and their organizations in countries across the world. The gender equality issues that employers’ organizations seek to address evidently vary considerably from country to country. There is, however, a common thread which emerges from analysis of the case studies – namely that, when employers act together through their representative organizations, they can influence reform in a way that is beneficial both to themselves and to society as a whole, rather than having it imposed upon them.

The ten case studies in the publication are from across the world: Croatia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen. They therefore cover countries at different levels of development, from different regions and cultures, and countries in which the situation of women varies considerably.

The selection of these ten case studies does not imply that other employers’ organizations have not been active on the issue of gender equality at the workplace, nor are the ten case studies necessarily selected as examples of “best practices”. The intention is to explain why and how important contemporary gender equality issues are being addressed by employers’ organizations in different national settings. The publication is therefore intended as an informative guide, offering examples of the rationale and the actions and initiatives taken by employers’ organizations.

This publication does not set out prescribed measures or any “step-by-step” approach to be followed, and it should not therefore be treated as a manual on how employers’ organizations are to address gender equality issues. Instead, it is hoped that it will provide impetus for reflection and inspiration for others to follow. Nor do the case studies flow from one to another, but should be read individually or consulted as and when required. This publication forms part of the ILO Toolkit on Gender Mainstreaming in the World of Work.

What emerges from the case studies is the broad range of means of action, initiatives and activities undertaken by employers’ organizations on gender equality issues.The variety of means of action used is detailed and explained in Chapter 2.
The Bureau for Employers’ Activities is particularly grateful to the Croatian Employers’ Association, the Jamaica Employers’ Federation, the Federation of Kenya Employers, the Malaysian Employers’ Federation, Business New Zealand, the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry, the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines, the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Council of Saudi Chambers, the Damascus Chamber of Industry and the Damascus Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Yemeni Chambers of Commerce and Industry for agreeing to share their experience. Sincere thanks are due to all these organizations, which took the time to share their views and experience and, in most cases, provided very substantial input for the development of the case studies.

The Bureau of Employers’ Activities, ACT/EMP, wishes to emphasize, however, that the views expressed in the case studies are those of the organizations concerned; they do not necessarily reflect those of the ILO.

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Further information:
Bureau for Employers' Activities (ACT/EMP)
Tel: +41.22.799.7748
Fax: +41.22.799.8948
E-mail: actemp@ilo.org

 

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