LABOUR LAW NEEDS TO ALLOW WOMEN INTO FORMAL ECONOMY
SIWIBA an initiative to include women into the formal economy. Photo credit: SIBC.
Solomon Islands’ Labor Law still does not recognize certain issues facing women in the country which prevent them from engaging more in the private sector.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) Gender Specialist Vijaya Nagarajan told local journalists yesterday.
Ms. Nagarajan said the country’s Labor Law still does not recognize certain issues facing women in Solomon Islands which prevent them from engaging proactively in the private sector.
She said these includes sexual harassment, equal opportunities, maternity leave compared to other Pacific countries, lack of awareness among women groups about tax rates and business licensing.
Ms. Nagarajan says these issues can only be addressed by the Government, regulators, and financial institutions.
“These prevents women from engaging with the private sector in a much more proactive manner and that should be encouraged. It could be done by the regulators themselves or the institutions and government departments themselves but also by financial institutions such as banks but also by companies.”