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Interview of Sarwari Rahman

'Equal Pay for Equal Labour'

The proportion of total women engaged in gainful work outside their homes is very small. The economic dependence of the majority of women population obviously affects their social status. Low rate of literacy, lack of skill and technical know-how, absence of opportunities for training and education limit their scope of gainful employment. In the changing social conditions, their traditional knowledge is not sufficient for better home -making as well.

By Rabat Fahmida and S. Bari
, । ryt government will
I soon set-up a National
1 Council for women, in order to deal with the present major problems", said Sarwari Rahman, the State Minister for Social Welfare and Women's Affairs Ministw During an exclusive tntendew with The Daily Star', this 55 year old politician did not mince words or brush off the critical Issues now facing Bangladeshi women. In her office at the Secretariat, she calmly discussed the problems and put their not-so casy' solutions on a platter. Her appropriate choice of words, spoke of her convent education — both In India and Bangladesh. She said, "half of our population is women. And this half cannot be left out If we truly want development of the country. To put it more clearly 85 per cent of the women live in villages. So to educate and mobilise them Is the prime concern. And we have to break the barrier of gender bias."
Economic Inequality is possibly the most significant ' factor that, in turn, leads to social inequality. Lack of opportunities for women to enter Into various types of employment. equally with men. restricts them to be significant contributors to the family income and national progress. This puts limitations on the full use of women's potentialities. Women are not given proper training in all branches of technology and equal opportunity tn all kinds of non-jraditlonal employment. In many Jobs they arc not even paid equally. Although the laws seek to establish the principle of equal rights for women In ‘ employment, lack of proper and adequate education, training and the discrimination against them In some jobs and high rate of unemployment tends to leave them out. The college or university education for the girls is not a guarantee for jobs.
Inspite of all these handicaps in recent years, ft has
been observed that economic, social and phychologlcal incentives play an Important role in our women's lives to take up gainful jobs. But qpHe often women of well-to-do families also take up a career to enhance their family and social status.
The state minister said, education and employment help
should not be undermind.
It came out during the interview. that the built-in mechanism in the socialisation process of girls 1s such that from early childhood they do not learn to decide for themselves. Decision making starting from choosing of food, clothing upto life partner 1s predominantly decided by par-
Thus, for example. 78 per cent of families, according to a study, should educate their sons but not their daughters, tf the finances are limited Another study showed that sons are more likely to be edu rated but that girls chances of education Increase If their parents are In a high socio economic group.
a woman to a great extent to see through her own self. She went on to say. understanding of her own image, own identity and Individuality as a total unit only can be felt and realised when she independently earns and can have the option to live by her own earning If situation demands so The psychological factors behind employment
ents. Growing up through this process tends to put constraints on their undertaking higher executive posts or holding top positions where prompt and quick decision making Is necessary.
Another factor which reduces women's ability— mentioned earlier— is social prejudice against girls education
Not only are there fewer girls receiving education, but even those who do. receive a different type of education from boys Girls are always en-couraged to follow subjects related to home, the family, arts and social sciences. In order to be qualified to take up jobs as secretaries, nurses, teachers, caterers, and so on — the nr
ceptablc 'feminine occupa ttone. Very few girls are en-eouraged to study science >uh-Jccts with the aim of following technological and scientific ca races; in fact many girls arc actively discouraged from do
Recently programmes of various non government organisations have offered opportunities for women's gainful work which required arduous physical labour like, digging earth or carrying btg load Traditionally, such heavy physical works have so long been regarded as the male Job But at present, the economic pressure compels the rural women to participate in such non-conventional physical work. Economic necessity also appears to have realised the redundancy of traditional social sanction against women's physical work in the field.
Yet the proportion of total women engaged 1n gainful C>rk outside their homes Is ry small. The economic de pcndence of the majority of women population obviously affects their social status. Low rate of literacy, lack of skill and technical know-how. absence of opportunities for training and education limit their scope of gainful employment. In the changing social conditions, their traditional knowledge is not sufficient for better home -making as well.
The government has taken serious note of the very low level of women's participation In economic activity.'' said Sarwari Rahman. A work on this issue Initiated by making education free for girls till class eight. She stressed, women should be given both formal and non-formol education. More so. as formal (education for adult women * difficult
The State Minister concluded. "if all of us work together. I hope we will be able to achieve this, and demand — equal pay for equal labour" — as mentioned in our labour low."