To Aid Economy, Pakistan Protects Women - Building Gender Balanced Business

• Pakistan’s National Assembly voted unanimously in November 2009 to pass a law providing women legal protection against harassment in the workplace.

• The legislation calls for penalties of three years in prison, 500,000 rupees (equivalent at the time to almost $6,000) or both for making sexual advances on a woman or intimidating her.

• A passage in the legislation explains that it will not only increase safety for both men and women at work but will also make it possible for more women to work in a dignified nature. More working women, it adds, will reduce poverty.

• The economy will benefit, the legislation says, as private- and public-sector employers will have a larger talent pool to hire from, resulting in increased productivity and improved services. “The social benefits, as a result of providing protection against harassment will become a major contribution to the development of the country,” The Associated Press of Pakistan summarised from the bill.

The APP report