Minister: Women who work from home need to be acknowledged

Gender Minister Shidhatha Shareef has named the lack of acknowledgement of the efforts of women who earn their income by working from home as a major challenge facing women.

Minister Shidhatha was speaking at the opening ceremony of the South Asian Women's Network (SWAN) conference when she stated that the unpaid hard work by women at home is not appreciated by society. She referred to child-rearing, works involving cleaning and cooking in the home without which she noted that the society would stop and would see the economy demolished.

A recent survey carried out in the Maldives showed that women working at home spend more hours working than men who are paid to work, and this was highlighted by the Minister who pointed out that the Paternity Leave policy by the government was rolled out to stop the equate the work carried out at home and allow families to find time to spend together.

She also stated that the government would not stop its efforts in leveling classes, empowering increasing the participation of women in the economic and political field.

Minister Shidhatha will take part in the 10th conference of SWAN held in New Delhi, India from August 30 to September 8. She will also take part in the Sustainable Growth of Women Entrepreneurs and Export Promotion by the Madhya Pradesh Association of Women Entrepreneurs (MAWE) held from September 6 to 7 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Minister Shidhatha is leading a delegation formed by 21 Maldivian women who are taking part in this trip.