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

Over the past years considerable attention has been given to the advancement of women and their important role in contributing to the social and economic development of Fiji. Fiji's concerns regarding the advancement of women are reflected in its "National Report on Women in Fiji - Situation, Analysis and Strategies in Preparation for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace". Despite various initiatives at all levels of society to improve women's employment position in Fiji, it is recognized that much remains to be done.

In response to Fiji's concerns regarding women's economic empowerment, employment opportunities and conditions of work, the South-East Asia and the Pacific Multidisciplinary Advisory Team of the International Labour Office—with the financial support of the United Nations Development Programme under its Technical Support Service (TSS1) facility—undertook a policy advisory mission in Fiji on women's employment opportunities in the formal sector economy during the first half of 1996.

The objective of the mission was to assist the Government and the social partners in identifying the key barriers to women's equal participation in paid employment in the formal sector, and in formulating policy recommendations designed to improve the position of women and increase their contribution to overall economic activity. Special attention to the formal sector is justified by the reality that women still lack equal opportunities in the economy and are often excluded from the better jobs in the formal sector. Secondly, data on formal sector employment are more easily available and most important, formal sector activity is within the direct realm of government.

The ILO Mission Team was composed of Prof. Arthur MacEwan (University of Massachussets, Boston and ILO Consultant) and Ms. Katerine Landuyt, ILO/SEAPAT Associate Expert on Gender Issues, who both prepared the report. Initial work on the study was carried out by Ms. Helen Campbell, Senior Specialist on Gender Issues, ILO/SEAPAT and Ms. Alexandra Boon and Ms. Margaret Reade-Rounds of ILO Office, Suva. Dr. Rashid Amjad, then Director of ILO/SEAPAT was overall in charge of this sub-regional study conducted under a common framework in Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

This report has attempted to identify the most critical issues regarding women's employment in the formal sector and formulate recommendations to serve as a basis for policy making and future action. In addition, the report will serve as a framework for discussion on women's employment in Fiji during a tripartite national workshop planned for the second half of 1997. The purpose of the workshop is to translate the policy proposals outlined in the report into concrete action programmes.

The report includes a review of the overall situation of women in the PNG formal economy and presents some central issues related to gender and development. It provides an analysis of the position and problems and of the legislative framework covering women's employment in the formal sector. The reports touches upon issues such as the gender division of labour, wages disparities, working conditions, access to training and education, family responsibilities, maternity protection, international labour standards and mechanisms to integrate gender issues into national development planning. It also contains two sets of policy proposals related to gender and development, and legal reforms. In conclusion, the report briefly lays out some priority areas for further study such as:

• the statistical gathering of gender-related data
• studies on the selection for training and promotion
• assessment of the needs and costs of child care programmes and of the possibilities of flexible work hours
• analysis of gender bias in schools

On behalf of the ILO, we wish to express our thanks to all those in Fiji who so generously assisted in the conduct of this study through participation in meetings and interviews, by providing documentation and in numerous other ways. Appreciation is also expressed to the Resident Representative and the staff of the UNDP Office in Suva. The strong support of the ILO Office, Suva, throughout this exercise is also gratefully acknowledged.

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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