Statement by Ms Helen Horsington, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations Commission on Social Development regarding policy responses on employment and the social consequences of the financial and economic crisis, including its gender dimension. Delivered on 8 February 2010.
(as delivered)
The consequences of the financial and economic crisis continue to reverberate around the world, including in countries and on vulnerable populations that had little to do with the causes of the collapse. Although the global economy appears to be making a recovery, ongoing economic instability continues to have serious implications for development. According to the World Bank, global poverty reduction has slowed and by the end of this year an additional 90 million people are expected to be living in poverty than would have been the case without the crisis. The gender dimension and employment consequences of the crisis call for particular consideration.
Mr Chairman
Economic recessions place a disproportionate burden on women, who tend to be concentrated in wage vulnerable employment such as labour-intensive export industries or as casual, temporary or informal workers. Women are more likely to be unemployed than men. If they are employed, women are more likely to be terminated first when economic conditions worsen. Women also tend to have lower access to unemployment and social protection benefits. These impacts are further compounded by increases in food prices and falls in remittances. The design and delivery of economic stimulus packages does not always take into account the differentiated impact of these programs on women.
Significant productivity benefits accrue from increased participation of women in the paid workforce. Long term economic security is also generated by greater workforce participation of women. We should not underestimate the importance in many countries of women’s preference to invest their resources in child rearing. This can mitigate the negative impacts of economic turmoil on children and families.
Australia’s development agency has commissioned a number of research projects to inform our own policy advice on the social and human impacts of the financial and economic crisis in many of our partner countries. We are translating this research into action. For example, in Peru Australia will empower thousands of women and their families through a microfinance project, working in a new partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank. Australia’s contribution will support 100,000 women entrepreneurs in Peru through training, networking and mentoring, arming them with the management skills and confidence required to develop more sustainable and profitable businesses.
Mr Chairman
All governments should consider policy responses to the financial and economic crisis that address unemployment. In September last year, G20 Leaders including from Australia committed to strengthen support for the most vulnerable economies. They also committed to implement economic recovery plans that help preserve employment and prioritise job growth.
G20 Employment and Labour Ministers will meet in April 2010 to assess the evolving employment situation. They will report on whether further measures are desirable and consider medium-term employment and skills development policies, social protection programs and best practices. Leaders should ensure that all workers regardless of their gender are equipped to take advantage of advances in science and technology. These efforts will help to ensure that all countries are well-placed to recover from the effects of the global recession.
Mr Chairman
Australia will continue to play a constructive and inclusive role, including during the ongoing G20 talks, to advance the interests of peoples of all nations in adequate and effective national and global responses to the global economic and financial crisis.