ABSTRACT

This paper explores the multiple dimensions of labour and gender inequalities in employment, occupation, earnings, and poverty in the global economic crisis. The gendered patterns of labour recruitment, occupational segregation, and the gender gap in pay affecting the life of women and children will be overviewed. It will also try to discuss and expand the dominant effects of the current economic crisis on the wellbeing of women and children, and today’s state responsibilities.

The Global Employment Trends report states that the gender impact of the economic crisis in terms of unemployment rates is expected to be more detrimental for females than for males in most regions of the world. The economic crisis is expected to increase the number of unemployed women by up to 22 million in 2009 (ILO Report, 2009).

Since welfare provisions are the first budgetary cuts made by governments forced with increasing debt burdens, women and their children are the most threatened by the inroads on the subsistence economy.

According to Overseas Development Institute’s (ODI, March 2009) Background Note new estimates from the World Bank (World Bank, 2009) suggest that slower economic growth owing to the current economic crisis will trap 46 million more people than expected on less than US$1.25 a day; an extra 53 million will be pushed into $2 day poverty.

Millions will plunge into poverty. The Most vulnerable ones, women and children will experience the negative consequences more rapidly and with more severity. Vulnerabilities depend on both gender and age, and are multidimensional. Women are the first to lose jobs, having to work harder to seek additional income, spending less time on nurture and care.