Alia Mohammed – Women in Development and Peace
Yemeni women working in government institutions represent a key driver of the country’s comprehensive development; they play a pivotal and vital role in various fields, doubling their efforts day after day in various sectors and specializations. They have also proven their high competence and ability to accomplish assigned tasks with competence, leaving a distinct mark on their professional career in every aspect. Despite this, Yemeni women continue to face challenges in obtaining equal job opportunities with men in some fields, especially those requiring high technical skills.
In this report, we highlight the employment opportunities for women in government institutions compared to men, and we review the challenges and solutions to address these challenges.
A Weak Competitive Position
A recent report from the World Bank Group in 2024 revealed that the gender gap in the workplace is far wider than previously thought. According to the report: “When legal differences that include violence and childcare are taken into account, women receive less than two-thirds of men’s rights, and no country offers equal opportunities for women, not even in the richest economies.”
In 2021, Yemen ranked 155 out of 156 on the Global Gender Gap Index, due to the collapse of the political and economic systems due to the ongoing conflict in the country; this gave a picture of the enormous gender disparities, according to the report issued by the World Economic Forum.
Many indicators point to the enormous gender disparities in Yemen, especially in the area of economic participation in government facilities; women face significant difficulties in obtaining equal job opportunities with men in these facilities, and they suffer from discrimination and bias in the workplace. One of the most important challenges facing Yemeni women in the economic field is the lack of equal job opportunities with men in some fields within government economic facilities, and even if they exist for women, they are often with low salaries and difficult working conditions.
Samah Qaid, a government employee, says that Yemeni women face challenges in some government institutions. She says: “Despite the progress made in employing women in government institutions over successive stages, there are many challenges facing them that prevent the achievement of full equality between women and men in the labor market; men still hold a stronger and more representative position in the public sector in many sectors, which reduces equal job opportunities for women.”
She also points out that women continue to face enormous challenges in reaching senior leadership positions in various institutions, despite proving their high competence and skills; job preferences in favor of men and gender bias play a key role in depriving women of these opportunities, which hinders their careers and negatively impacts their progress and achievement of their ambitions.
She says: “The reasons for job discrimination between men and women and gender bias in favor of men are due to several factors, most notably social customs and traditions, which limit women’s role to housework and family care, the prevailing negative view that shows that women’s abilities are inferior to men’s, and a lack of confidence in their leadership abilities. These factors have defined certain jobs in which women work. Additionally, there is a lack of appropriate infrastructure that aligns with women’s needs at work.”
Atyat Abood Badhawi, a community and human rights activist, agrees, saying: “Equal employment opportunities between women and men are a fundamental human right and a necessity for achieving comprehensive and sustainable development for society. But women in our society still earn less than men for the same work. On the other hand, political and social changes have played a major role in widening the gender gap. We have seen radical changes in terms of rights and entitlements.”
She added: “Some of the reasons that prevent equality between men and women in the field of work, and all levels of development, are social factors that encourage discrimination against women, and the lack of legal protection for women in the workplace; this deprives them of basic rights at work, such as equal pay and promotion opportunities.”
She pointed out in her speech that Article 42 of Yemeni law states that women are equal to men in all terms of employment, rights, obligations, and relationships, without any discrimination, and achieving parity between them in employment, promotions, wages, training, qualifications, and social insurance. However, this law is not implemented in practice.
She continues: “Under the Equal Pay Act, men and women in the same workplace should be paid equally for the same work. This is achieved when women have the same opportunities available to men, enjoy all rights, and have the same responsibilities in all aspects of life. This means equal participation in the distribution of power and influence, equal access to financial independence, education, and the realization of ambitions.”
A Positive Change
Fatima Muhammad, a worker at a government hospital, believes there is a positive change in the number of women in government institutions in Yemen. She says: “Previously, employment in government institutions was largely restricted to men. With the changing realities of Yemeni society over different periods, the active role of women in all areas of life was embodied, and the doors were opened for them to work in government institutions and participate in building and developing the state.”
She added that many Yemeni government institutions have seen an increase in the percentage of women employed in various sectors, due to their important and influential roles in the government sector, in addition to their competence, merit, desire for development and construction, and assistance in providing public services to citizens.
She also confirmed in her speech that providing job opportunities for women in government institutions is one of the most important steps towards achieving equality between women and men; as it enhances the role of women in society in various disciplines and fields. The relevant authorities and government institutions need to create equal employment opportunities for both sexes and provide a supportive work environment to achieve development and social and economic stability.
Solutions to Increase Job Opportunities for Women
Fatima listed some solutions to increase job opportunities for women in government institutions. The most important of these include: Raising public awareness about the importance of women’s role in the country, both legally and economically. This involves recognizing their rights and abilities and utilizing them to develop policies and laws that strengthen women’s rights in the workplace, combat discrimination, and fight gender bias. It also includes providing management methods that promote gender equality, protect women from any discrimination, and evaluate performance based on competence and achievement. Adding to this is the implementation of training and qualification programs to empower women to enter the workforce, develop their skills, and give them the chance to participate in political and economic decision-making.
There’s no doubt that employing women in government institutions is a significant step in empowering them and strengthening their role in society. This also contributes to social stability and economic growth. Integrating women into all levels of government work allows us to leverage their abilities and potential to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development in all fields and sectors, boosting the country’s economic growth and productivity.
It’s also clear that the gender gap in the Yemeni workforce is a major challenge that we must tackle through collaborative efforts with relevant stakeholders. We need to create a world where women have equal opportunities to participate in the workforce and contribute to sustainable development for all in a country worn down by conflict.