The gender pay gap in Ghana, like in many other parts of the world, has been a longstanding issue. Most women in Ghana are often paid or find themselves in lower-paying sectors such as informal labor and others while men dominate higher paying industries like finance and technology.
In other words, gender discrimination is still prevalent in the workplace with women facing bias in salary negotiation. Thus, stereotypes about women’s abilities and commitment to their jobs can hinder their advancement
However, an anthropological study of the gender division of labor across different societies has revealed that women work harder and more intensively than men. If so, should there be an equal increment between men and women, or should women gain more than men?
Others may argue that education is one of the major factors why women are paid less than men in Ghana. That is, fewer women receiving quality education compared to men limiting their access to higher-paying jobs that require specialized skills or degrees. Hence, it is not enough to eliminate the gender wage gap.
The gender wage gap shows the difference in average earnings between men and women in the workforce. That is, it represents the disparity in income between men and women performing similar jobs or work of equal value.
The annual Household Income Expenditure Survey (HIES) data collected from the first quarter of 2022 portrays that, even among paid workers, women earn 34.2 percent less than men. This was a survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service which also stated the estimated gender wage gap estimated age, approximate years of work experience, highest level of education attended, and others. It noted that this gender wage gap is the lowest among paid workers with tertiary education or more where women earn 12.7 percent less than the males.
“The wage gap is highest among workers with basic education (60.1%) followed by workers with no education (54.0%). When comparing sectors of employment, the gender wage gap is highest in the private informal sector where women are paid 58.7 percent less than men”, the AHIES survey hinted.
For instance, some influential and hardworking women in the music and art industry like Becca, Efya, Adina, and many others likely earn substantial income from their work in the industry compared to men like Stonebwoy, Sarkodie, and others. Most of these women work under record labels owned by most of the men and earn a percentage of the income which can be substantial in the case of these successful men in the industry.
Reports from the World Health Organization 2022 indicates that,” the most comprehensive global analysis of gender pay inequalities in the health and care sector finds that women face a larger gender pay gap than other economic sectors.”. That is to say, women face a larger gender pay gap earning an average of 24 percent less than men according to a new joint report by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). For instance, male physicians consistently earn more than women. Again, women working in the health and care sector appear to suffer additional penalties. This report highlights the fact that, men are over-represented while women are over-represented in the lower pay categories.
It will be an encouraging success story if women’s wages are increased and adequately paid for their worth. This could only be done if we should promote workplace environments that are free from discrimination and biases. Thus, encouraging and conducting awareness campaigns to challenge stereotypes and biases that may hinder women’s career advancement. This is where the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection can play their role effectively by raising much concern on the issue of Gender pay gap.
Achieving equality in the workforce will be a complex process. However, through concerted efforts and a commitment to change, progress can be made toward ensuring that women earn as equal as men in Ghana’s workforce.