Guatemalan Minister of Women's Affairs Raises Awareness at Bank Learning Dialogue

A Close Look at Guatemala’s Female Workforce
By Michelle Zelsman

At the learning dialogue organized by the World Bank in partnership with UNIFEM to address the challenges of gender equity in labor and trade agendas, specifically related to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), crucial policy
and legal issues—and the role of the Bank—were part of the debate that made clear that when women are part of a country’s formal economy, both women and countries prosper.

The learning dialogue took place just one day after new Bank President Paul Wolfowitz took office and shared in a town hall meeting that he believes gender and seeing women play a full role in their country’s development agenda is key to poverty reduction.

Maria Gabriela Nunez, Guatemala’s Minister of Women’s Affairs, illustrated to the group that while incorporating women into her country’s economy is still full of challenges—it’s absolutely critical to the country’s well being.

To provide a snapshot of the plight of women in the Guatemalan labor force, Nunez said, “We have opened opportunities for women, but the labor conditions, in the textile and garment industry, for example, are precarious, at best.”

In Guatemala’s agricultural industry, women are not recognized for their full contribution to the economy, particularly in their work in the areas of production of ornamental plants and vegetables, fruits and flowers.

And yet, women are recognized as main actors and play an important role in industries such as the shrimp and hotel businesses. But the prevalence of
dramatic inequities of pay when comparing earnings by men and the number of hours they are required to work to those of women is astonishing.

To respond to the needs of women in Central America, Nunez told the group that the Ministers of Women’s Affairs for six Central American countries have established the COMMCA (Council of Ministers of Women’s Affairs) to assure effective participation of women and to address the most relevant issues related to gender equity including:

• Influence of economic policies.
• Building strategic alliances.
• Developing an economic agenda in consultation with women’s organizations.
• Incorporation of COMMCA in the Central American integration system.
  
  

“We believe this will provide the necessary support for COMMCA to respond to the needs of women in Central America,” according to Nunez.

Minister Nunez presented the Bank with several opportunities to consider as it defines the role of gender equality in its country assistance. Among them she suggested:

• Recognition of Ministries of Women’s Affairs at the national levels and as valid counterparts responsible for the development and monitoring of public policy related to women and the inclusion of gender equity.    
• Incorporation of mechanisms in the formulation and negotiations of World Bank assistance.

”What’s important about the day’s event and having representation from the other organizations here today,” said Minister Nunez, “is the importance of working together and having the opportunity for creating a forum for the ongoing exchange of information and experiences.”

”We need to share information, to know about the processes that are being developed and how the other groups can provide support on the same topics we are working on,” said Nunez.