Pakistan among countries with highest gender pay gap, ILO report reveals

Pakistan remains one of the countries with the highest gender pay gap (GPG), with women earning significantly less than men, according to a recent report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The report highlights that women in Pakistan earn Rs750 for every Rs1,000 earned by men, reflecting a 25% wage gap based on hourly earnings. The disparity widens further when considering monthly wages, where the gap reaches nearly 30%, partly due to women working fewer hours on average.

Notably, the report finds that a significant portion of the pay gap cannot be explained by differences in education, experience, or skill levels, pointing towards systemic discrimination in the labour market.

Pakistan’s GPG is among the highest in South Asia, surpassing Sri Lanka (22%), Nepal (18%), and Bangladesh, where women earn more than men, with a negative GPG of -5%. However, there has been some progress, as Pakistan's gender wage gap has declined from 33% in 2018.

The gap is less pronounced in the formal sector, where labour laws and compliance help maintain wage equality, especially in public sector jobs. However, in the informal economy and domestic work sector, the gap exceeds 40%, leaving millions of women vulnerable to wage discrimination.

Despite international commitments, including the ILO's Equal Remuneration Convention (1951), which advocates equal pay for equal work, Pakistan continues to struggle with deep-rooted gender-based wage disparities. Experts urge stronger policy implementation and labour reforms to ensure fair compensation for women in the workforce.