Women in Labor Law and Society:
Comparative Review of the Asian Experience

The International Organisation (ILO) has adopted 22 conventions and 20 recommendations concerning women workers.

Asian women are gradually opting to be more economically active.  They are increasingly moving from household-based employment to the non-household-based economic sectors.

In the last three decades, there has been a noticeable increase in the share of women workers in different occupational categories.  However, the predominant practice of gender-specific occupational specialization and job stereotyping still exists in most countries.

Employed women have to contend with the double burden of wage employment and responsibilities at home.  Married women are still considered secondary wage earners of the family, their incomes mainly meant to supplement their husbands.

Common indicators of economic production have been heavily criticized for their tendency to underreport or undervalue women’s work.

Pervasive wage differences between male and female workers exist based on evidence from national surveys.  Generally, men get paid higher than women.

Most Asian countries constitutionally affirm the equality of men and women before the law, although only the Philippines makes a direct reference to gender equality and an explicit recognition of the role of women in nation building.  These countries include Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Although it has been observed that Asian labor laws pertaining to women are adequate and conform with international labor standards, their implementation leaves much to be desired because of pressures in the social system.  Therefore, the hiatus between law and practice has to be examined and remedied in accordance with economic and social realities.

With regard to special provision for women, the fights is for equal rights and opportunities, not special privileges and limitations on what women should and should not do in the workplace.