Gender inequality not only 'unacceptable but wicked' – PNC

The gender inequality between men and women in the country in the area of education, economic and employment sector is worrying, the People’s National Convention (PNC) has said.

According to the PNC gender equality remains a significant challenge that hinders potential competitiveness, growth, prosperity and development of a country.

In a statement to mark International Women’s Day, the PNC in a statement signed by Ms Janet Nabla, the National Women’s Organiser bemoaned that the labour commission has records of 87 percent of the public sector employment being giving to men whereas only 13 percent of women get opportunity to work in the public sector.

“These violates the directive principle of state policy in our constitution which states that, the state must take reasonable measures to achieve gender balance in the area of recruitment. Article 35(5) and (6b) have been violated by both current and previous governments when it comes to appointments into the public sector,” the statement said.

The PNC wants to the government to put in place measures to ensure a fair and gender sensitive recruitment process into the public sector.

Lamenting over the delay in passing the affirmative action bill into law, the PNC stated that the bill has gone through a lot of scrutiny “as if it is a virus and it is yet to be laid in parliament.”

“Just as slavery and colonialism were a stain on previous centuries, women’s inequality should shame us all in the 21st century because it is not only unacceptable but wicked,” the PNC noted.