Promoting Productive Employment and Decent Work for Women in Egypt, Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territory

The project aims to promote productive employment and decent work for women in Egypt, Jordan, and the occupied Palestinian territory through reducing the barriers to women’s entry to and retention in decent work.

United Nations Women and the International Labour Organisation developed a joint 4-year multi-country programme promoting productive and decent employment opportunities and treatment for women in Egypt, Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territory. Aligned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 5 and 8 on gender equality, decent work, and economic growth, the programme aims to address the structural causes of inequalities that women face in these countries and that hinder women from enjoying equal opportunities for decent work and reaching their full economic potential.

The three countries have been selected based on the ongoing work of both agencies, government commitments towards gender equality, and civil society engagement. Strategies will include promoting equitable labour market related laws and policies; engaging public, private and community actors with attention to involving men; and reducing the unequal burden of unpaid care work. The outputs of the joint programme are also aligned to countries’ strategic priorities and will contribute to the efforts of achieving relevant SDG indicators.

Together with national institutions, the programme will address discriminatory laws and foster gender-responsive policy environments. It will engage with private sector to promote equal and decent employment opportunities and will work closely with the civil society to challenge gender stereotypes at home and in the world of work.

Overall Objective

The main goal of the programme is to promote productive employment and decent work
for women in Egypt, Jordan and occupied Palestinian territory through reducing the barriers to women’s entry
to and retention in decent work.

Objectives

  1. Gender responsive labour laws and related policies in place and are effective
  2. A gender responsive private sector that attracts, retains and promotes women is supported
  3. Gender stereotypes about women and men’s responsibilities concerning unpaid care and household work are challenged

Main Activities for ILO contributions to the programme:

  • Promote labour law reforms and related policies are promoted to reflect gender equality and decent work concerns through gap assessments and reform advocacy.
  • Review and reform corporate policies in favour of gender equality through  work with companies to serve as role models in women’s economic empowerment.
  • Strengthen employers’ and workers’ organisations capacity to promote gender equality and women’s right at work in the private sector.
  • Promote private sector and government investment in child-care facilities and work/life balance provisions in the workplace through regulatory reform, provision of childcare and relevant training.
  • Work with the private sector to adopt code of conduct, and create a collation against violence at work, in line with forthcoming international labour standards.
  • Promote women’s representation and voice are included in social dialogue processes at sectoral and enterprise levels through gender-responsive agreements to improve working conditions for women in areas such as wages, maternity, childcare, and career development.
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