International Women's Day 2008: New report on Global Employment Trends for Women and panel discussion on investing in women's decent work by ILO

Key resources

Type Press release
Date issued 29 February 2008
Reference ILO/08/5
Unit responsible Communication and Public Information
Subjects decent work, employment, gender equality, gender
Other languages Español • Français

GENEVA (ILO News) – The International Labour Office (ILO) will mark International Women’s Day with a new report on labour market trends for women in the world of work and a panel discussion by eminent women bankers and trade unionists on how to invest to create jobs and improve the work lives of women worldwide.

The new ILO report entitled “Global Employment Trends for Women, March 2008” provides an update on the state of women in labour markets worldwide. It undertakes a comparative analysis of labour markets at the global and regional levels, delivers the latest data on female labour force participation, unemployment, etc., and addresses a new indicator on the share of women in vulnerable employment. It also analyzes the evolution of female employment by sector over the past decade and the persistent gender gaps in the world of work.

The report will be launched at a press conference in Geneva at the Palais des Nations, Room III, Thursday 6 March at 11 am. Speakers include Ms. Evy Messell, Director of the ILO's Bureau for Gender Equality, Mr. Lawrence Jeff Johnson, Chief of ILO Employment Trends unit, and Ms. Dorothea Schmidt, one of the report authors. A press release will be distributed to the press. Copies of the report are available from the ILO Department of Communication at communication@ilo.org. A PDF file of the report will be available in English, French and Spanish. The report is under embargo for publication on or after 23:00 GMT on 6 March 2008.

The ILO will host the panel discussion on the theme “Investing in Decent Work for Women: not just right, but smart” at its headquarters in Geneva. The panel discussion will be held at the ILO, Friday, 7 March at 10 am, 4 route des Morillons, Geneva in the Governing Body Room, Level R3 South. Simultaneous English, French, Spanish interpretation will be provided.

Special guests include:

  • Ms. Evelyn Oputu, Managing Director, Bank of Industry and the former Executive Director of First National Bank, Nigeria

  • Ms. Michaela Walsh, Founder of Women’s World Banking and the first woman manager of Merrill Lynch International, United States

  • Ms. Rupa Manel Silva, Founder of the Women’s Development Service Cooperative Society/ Women’s Bank of Sri Lanka

  • Ms. Agnes Jongerius, President of the Trade Union Confederation of the Netherlands, and Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation.

    • For further details please contact Lauren Elsaesser at elsaesser@ilo.org or +4122/799-6195. For media queries, contact Laetitia Dard at dard@ilo.org or +4122/799-8272, +4178/685-0117. For broadcasting queries or video coverage please contact Karen Naets-Sekiguchi at naets-sekiguchi@ilo.org or +4122/799-7935. Interviews can be scheduled with the special guests before or after the event.

    For more information on International Women’s day including biographical information on the panellists, please visit: http://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Events/Campaigns/lang--en/WCMS_090391/index.htm

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