Employment among Latin American women increased by 15% from 2000-2010, but there is still wage inequality compared to men, said a representative of the World Bank.
The Sector Manager for Poverty Reduction in Latin America of the World Bank presented the World Bank report “The effect of the economic power of women in Latin America and the Caribbean”.
According to the representative, the much larger workforce of women helped the poverty level in Latin America which is now positioned now at 14.6%.
Panama topped the list with the highest rate of female employment, where it increased by 35% during the first decade of the century, while in Costa Rica did by 26% and 24% in Peru, unlike in countries such as Honduras, where the number decreased by 3%.
The World Bank representative said that the profile of these women is that of a mother who brings in an additional salary to the home, and was concerned in the case of single mothers, “17% of families in the region” that are “three times more likely to be in extreme poverty.”
However, the education of women was one of the positive consequences that both parents have jobs, since rates in secondary education rose from 62% to 75% and in higher education increased from 23% to 41%, eight percentage points above men.
One key factor stressed was that of “financial literacy” and also “contact with other women entrepreneurs.”
Social Inclusion Week was inaugurated today by the President of Peru, Ollanta Humala, and will have among its participants to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Executive Director of UN Women and former president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet.
EFE
The Costa Rica news (TCRN)
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