Workplace Challenges and Problems for Women in Pakistan

Waqas Safdar Sikandari

Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Ethics

Instructor: Benjamin Deitchman

Final Term Paper

                        Workplace Challenges and Problems for Women in Pakistan

Women are the backbone of any society. Along With domestic responsibilities women have supported men in workplaces and economic ups and down since time immemorial. With the current wave of globalization and change in business paradigm, women have taken a more active role in the workplaces. Women have ventured into almost every profession and has been as productive as their male counterparts. Today we see women as doctors, pilots, engineers and as CEO’s leading big multinational firms.

Unfortunately, there has been and are miscreants and practices that promote violence and social injustice against women. Even in today’s world Women at workplace face issues that not only create barriers for their economic and social betterment but are also human rights violations.

The problems faced by working women are even exponential in a male dominated society like Pakistan. Working women in Pakistan still raise many eyebrows. Various social, cultural and religious factors have discouraged women from joining workplaces. Religious misconceptions that women should limit themselves only to the role of housewives have seriously halted the influx of women in workplaces. Although a lot has changed in the past few years, working women in Pakistan faces serious issues like Sexual Harassment, lower pay scale, domestic restrictions, and negative attitude of male workers along with many others. This paper will explore some of the major challenges faced by working women in Pakistan, and what the current landscape looks like for working women.

Harassment:

United Nations defines Harassment as “any physical or verbal behavior that hinders work or promote offensive work environment”. The most prevalent type of harassment is sexual harassment which includes asking for sexual favors and coercion. Although working women are strong individuals, many social and personal factors contribute to them not reporting the instances.

A majority of women workers in Pakistan come out for jobs in cases of extreme poverty and financial need. Reporting instances like this can cost them their job, which they cannot afford.

Another big hindrance for cases like this getting reported is the public shame victims have to face, and their families may stop them from working.

Sara, a 25 year old young graduate working at a bank said, “Harassment exists and we cannot ignore that. But we have to remain silent, otherwise our fathers and brothers wouldn’t let us continue working, and we cannot afford that”. Losing her job will mean losing all the financial freedom that she enjoys compared to other non-working women in Pakistan. Sara is not alone, and many other working women in Pakistan shares her story.