Health services and employment

Gender

In most countries the workforce of the health sector is predominantly female. Although women predominate in numbers, they are at the bottom of the hierarchy in terms of authority, remuneration, and qualification. Though legally accorded equal treatment in many countries, most women still tend to work in lower-paying jobs, requiring lower qualifications. They tend to work in the nursing professions, rather than medical doctors' positions, and within the same professions they tend to accept lower remuneration and less prestigious jobs.

Women workers are more likely to be the victims of sexual discrimination and violence (e.g. physical assault, verbal abuse, sexual harassment, bullying). These issues are of particular interest to the ILO and the focus of a range of current activities (e.g. research, sensitization campaigns, standard setting).

Useful links/resources

• Violence in the health sector