IRC urges action to boost women participation in workforce

IRC urges action to boost women participation in workforce

AMMAN — The International Rescue Committee (IRC) held an event on Tuesday to mark International Women’s Day and better understand the challenges and reasons behind the low levels of female labour market participation in Jordan, according to a statement for The Jordan Times.

The event titled “Her Voice: Breaking barriers and inspiring change”, highlighted the considerable gender gap that women face in the labour market, and reflected on the multifaceted causes that lead to Jordan having one of lowest rate of women labor participation in the world, standing at 14.7 per cent.

Nivedita Monga, the IRC’s country director in Jordan said, “While we welcome the progress done by the Government of Jordan through different legislative initiatives on this matter, the road ahead towards closing the gender gap in Jordan is still long.”

“Together, as a collective force including government, international partners, private sector and civil society, we can move the needle on women’s economic participation in Jordan,” she added.

During the event, the most recent findings of the Jordan Economic Monitor — a World Bank semi-annual publication that in its last edition zoomed in on women economic empowerment — were also discussed, according to the statement.

According to this World Bank’s report, the Government of