UN event calls for empowering working women

Domestic and international organizations are calling for stronger protections for women's workplace rights, including gender equality at work, improved social care to ease family burdens and skills training in line with technological advancements.

At a recent meeting in Beijing, held as a side event of the ongoing 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women at the UN headquarters in New York, officials and representatives from the organizations praised progress in gender equality and women's empowerment over the past few decades, but also noted that challenges remain.

The meeting was jointly organized by the UN Women China Office, the China Federation of Internet Societies and the International Labor Organization's country office for China and Mongolia to mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global commitment to advancing women's rights.

Guo Ye, director of the Women's Studies Institute of China under the All-China Women's Federation, said China has made significant progress in empowering women in the 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995.

However, she said closer cooperation is needed among women's associations, research centers, governments and businesses to meet women's evolving needs and further advance gender equality.

Figures from the National Bureau of Statistics show that Chinese women have seen improved healthcare, social benefits, education and workplace protections in recent years. According to the bureau, China had 320 million female workers in 2023, accounting for about 43.3 percent of the total workforce, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from 2022.

Government departments have also introduced regulations requiring employers to strengthen protections for female workers. The bureau said 73.5 percent of domestic companies implemented the State-level regulation on protecting such workers in 2023, up 0.6 percentage point from 2022.

The regulation, approved by the State Council in 2012, prohibits termination and slashing the salary of female employees due to pregnancy or child-rearing, and guarantees maternity leave.

Lee Chang-Hee, director of the International Labor Organization's country office for China and Mongolia, said that while significant progress has been made in protecting women's rights in China and globally, millions of women still face barriers to obtaining decent jobs and opportunities due to structural inequalities, discriminatory social norms and economic policies.

Lee urged countries and regions to improve social care and security systems, narrow the gender pay gap, eliminate workplace violence and harassment, and promote women's leadership in all sectors.

"All women are working women, whether their work is paid or unpaid, and it must be recognized and valued," he said.

Smriti Aryal, UN Women China's country representative, said, "Women's right to work and rights at work are fundamental pillars for women's overall wellbeing, enabling them to achieve their full potential and equality, impacting their health, education and overall quality of life. And when more women enter and stay in the workforce, it yields higher profitability and efficiency in business, and boosts a country's GDP and economic growth."