KUCHING: Addressing the wage gap between men and women is a critical step towards achieving gender equality in the workplace.
Manjeet Sidhu of Pertubuhan Pembangunan Insan Sarawak (PPIS) said the issue is a complex and multifaceted one with many different factors contributing to the wage gap.
According to her, some possible reasons for this gap include gender discrimination, occupational segregation, differences in education and experience and also in negotiating skills.
Explaining, she said gender discrimination can manifest in various ways and this includes bias in hiring, promotion and pay decisions, adding to stereotypes or cultural norms that suggest that women are less capable or committed to their careers than men.
Another contributing factor to this issue, she said, is occupational segregation where women are often concentrated in lower-paying industries or occupations, while men dominate higher-paying fields.
“This can result in women earning less even when they have similar education and experience as men.
“Differences in education and experience may also contribute to the wage gap as women may be more likely to take time off from their careers to care for children or elderly family members, which can result in less work experience and lower wages.
“Similarly, women may be less likely to pursue advanced degrees or training programmes, which can limit their earning potential,” she told New Sarawak Tribune.
Manjeet stressed that paying men and women equally for equal work is not only fair and just, but also makes good business sense.
“Companies that prioritise gender equality tend to have better financial performance and employee satisfaction than those that do not,” she added.
Noting that there is limited data specifically on the wage gap in Sarawak, she quoted a Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS) study in 2018, saying it found that women in the state face challenges in the workplace, including lower pay, limited career advancement opportunities and workplace discrimination.
According to the study, women in Sarawak earn an average of RM2,085 per month, compared to RM2,787 for men.
Additionally, the study found that women are over represented in low-paying industries such as domestic work, while men are over represented in high-paying industries, such as oil and gas.
While the study did not provide a comprehensive picture of the wage gap in Sarawak, she said the study suggested that women in the state face challenges in achieving gender equality in the workplace.
“Closing the wage gap will require a concerted effort from both the government and private sector to promote gender equality and ensure that women are given equal pay for equal work,” she said.
Manjeet said women MPs can play a crucial role in advocating for policies and initiatives that promote gender equality, including measures to close the wage gap.
“Encouragingly, many women MPs in Malaysia have been vocal about advocating for gender equality and women’s rights.
“It is important to continue pushing for these issues to be addressed at all levels of government and society, and to work towards creating a more equal and just society for all,” she said.
