Book 2 - Ebu

Guidelines on gender-ethical reporting
“In Liberia, like most
other countries,
women are an
essential backbone
to the economy as a
whole.”
— Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf,
President of Liberia (and
former banker), in Foreword to
Business Unusual: Gender and
the Economy edited by Deborah
Walter and Colleen Lowe
Morna, (Gender Links, 2008).
imply that the other points he made in the speech have nothing to do with women.
But of course they do. Clues present in the speech can potentially lead to interesting
stories that reveal a clearer picture of the work women do (when, where and how),
what they don’t or can’t do, why, and what can be done to lift the barriers that hinder
them.
Take, for example, Singh’s comments on the need to ensure the welfare of workers in
the unorganised sector. According to official estimates, over 90 per cent of
employment in India is in the unorganised sector, still characterised by little or no
labour protection and social security, although a long-delayed law meant to remedy
the situation came into force in 2009. An estimated 90 per cent of women workers in
both rural and urban areas belong to this sector: self-employed, engaged in homebased
work or casual labour in small enterprises, toiling as agricultural, construction
or domestic workers, etc. A similar situation obtains in many parts of the world. So
anything to do with unorganised labour is closely connected to women’s work.
How can that fact be turned into appealing stories A 1989 survey identified over
150 types of home-based work done by women in just one Indian city, ranging from
stringing flower garlands, supplying chapattis 11 to caterers, de-seeding tamarind
and packing sweets to making agarbathis 12 , weaving plastic seats for office chairs,
and folding paper for the book printing industry. Almost a decade later, a study
conducted in some of Delhi’s working class areas identified around 48 types of
piece-rate work. 13
A variety of fascinating stories could emerge from such compilations, combining
human interest and economics: not only showcasing individual (or groups of)
women workers, but also throwing light on their contributions to the economy, and
highlighting what needs to be done to promote their welfare.
Indian journalist Ajitha Menon’s article, “A train to nowhere”, is a good example
of how the issue of women’s work in the unorganised sector can be covered in
an interesting and insightful manner (page 24). It not only tells a vivid and
compelling story about the daily lives and trials of women who commute from
distant suburbs and villages to sell a variety of wares to urban consumers, but also
weaves in details about their contribution to family finances, and their problems
with credit and debt, corruption and unsupportive trade associations.
At a macro level, Singh’s comments on the links between rapid economic growth
and job opportunities call for interrogation, especially since they are belied by
official statistics. According to the International Labour Organisation report, Global
Employment Patterns 2012, the robust growth witnessed in South Asia in recent
times, driven largely by India, has not resulted in an expansion in employment.
Significantly, female labour force participation in the region has actually declined in
recent years. 14
11. Whole wheat, unleavened bread
12. Incense sticks.
13. Surveys conducted by the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) in Pune
and New Delhi, cited in several articles, including by Pamela Philipose, Women’s Feature
Service, June, 2011.
14. Ashoak Upadhyay, “Jobless growth continues in India,” in Businessline, 21 February, 2012.
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