Unit 2: Gender issues in the world of work: Labour market gender issues in Fiji

International Labour Organization
SEAPAT
South-East Asia and the Pacific Multidisciplinary Advisory Team
ILO/SEAPAT's OnLine Gender Learning & Information Module

Unit 2: Gender issues in the world of work

Labour market gender issues by country

Fiji

ILO/UNDP TSS1 Report Fiji: Towards Equality and Protection for Women Workers in the Formal Sector

Table of Contents
PREFACE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: i
Scope of the Study: i
Overall Situation of Women in the Formal Sector: i
Women in the Formal Sector: Positions and Problems: iii
Strengthening the Legislative Framework to Redress Gender Inequality: v
Policy Proposals: vi
I. SCOPE OF THE STUDY: 1
II. THE OVERALL ECONOMIC SITUATION OF WOMEN IN FIJI: 2
General Conditions and Trends of the Fiji Economy: 4
Attention to Women's Position in the Fiji Economy: 6
III. GENDER AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: SOME CENTRAL ISSUES: 8
IV. WOMEN IN THE FORMAL SECTOR: POSITIONS AND PROBLEMS: 16
Sectoral Distribution of Employment: 17
Women in Manufacturing: 18
Women in Government Employment: 22
Obtaining Skills: 24
Problems, Explanations, Bases for Change: 26
V. STRENGTHENING THE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK TO REDRESS GENDER INEQUALITY: 30
Protection and equality of women workers: 31
Issues outside the legal framework: 49
Industrial relations system: 50
Enforcement of legislative and regulatory provisions: 51
VI. POLICY PROPOSALS: 54
Part I: Gender and economic development: 54
Part II: Measures to enhance social protection and quality of employment: 68
References: 75
Annex: Issues for further study: 80
Tables: 84
List of tables:
Table 1: Estimate of paid employment in Fiji for 1994 by sex: 84
Table 2A: Daily mean wages earners by industry group, selected years: 85
Table 2B: Minimum wage rates in selected industries: 86
Table 3A: Civil service employees by sex and management level, 1995: 87
Table 3B: Women in Civil service employees, 1995: 87
Table 3C: Women in Civil service by job category, 1995: 88
Table 4: General distribution of skilled jobs, 1990 (1986): 89
Table 5: Enrollment in technical training programmes by sex, 1994: 90
Table 6: Child dependency ratios and total dependency ratios for Fiji and selected countries: 91

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For further information, please contact the South-East Asia and the Pacific Multidisciplinary
Advisory Team (SEAPAT) at Tel: +63.2.815.2354 or Fax: +63.2.812.6143
E-mail: seapat@ilo.org

This page was revised by SF. It was approved by WRB. It was last updated on 2 November 1998.