Challenges Facing Women in the Mining, Energy and Construction Sectors of South Africa: Persisting barriers to equity in the workplace

Abstract

South African women account for more than half of the national population. Promotion of gender equality, advancing human rights, and socio-economic empowerment of women has remained one of the national priority areas, not only for South Africa but the world over. The participation of women in main stream economic activities is important to the socio-economic development of South Africa. They possess unique skills and talents which can be utilised in the labour market to provide families with more economic independence (World Bank, 2009). They ensure a basis for sustainable sources and control of income to the benefit of children or households (UNWOMEN, 2015). More participation of women in the mainstream economy will reduce poverty and unemployment. Productive employment provides access to resources via wages (DW, 2015). An increase in the number of working women in the economy means production capacity will increase, which will lead to an increase in economic growth, and reduction of poverty and unemployment (World Bank, 2009). Thus, an environment that enables women to effectively engage in the labour market is essential to address some of the various economic inequalities that exist between the genders.