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by Marissa Jansz

Women in employment has been a matter of contention among employers, women's rights movements and the employed women themselves for many years.

Policies are being formulated and implemented at many levels to improve the conditions of women in employment. Statistics show that such work seems to have been fruitful. Swarna Jayaweera in her article "Trends in Employment" shows an increase in the number of women in the labour force from 32% in 1994, to 36.6% in 1999.

This increase is complemented by a decline in the unemployment rate among women from 20.1% in 1994 to 16.2% in 1998. While these figures seem encouraging enough, it becomes necessary, as Jayaweera does, to read them against the respective figures for men. These figures are mixed. Female labour force participation has risen faster than male labour force participation (with the levels for males reading 65.4% in 1994 and 67.7% in 1999).

At the same time however, the unemployment rate among women remains almost double that of men. So, ultimately the position for women in employment proves to be an ambiguous one. Although overall more women are involved in some form of employment, the positions open to women are limited.

The picture painted by Jayaweera is bleak. She points out that only women hold a very small percentage of managerial or administrative posts. In fact, the trend over the past few years has been one of decline, with the female labour force in senior management, administrative and professional positions dropping from 11.7% in 1994 to 8.7% in 1999.

While women are employed in various sectors, self-employment has over the years become an area of special interest of policy makers, Non-Government Organizations, aid agencies and other groups. It has been looked at as a favourable solution to the problem of unemployment. Among the many advantages in such enterprises is the fact that women can work from their own homes.

This is definitely a more favourable option to traveling overseas and facing innumerable risks. This option is also open to women hindered from entering other formal types of employment. In fact, Jayaweera observes that around 70% of the women involved in self-employment are those hailing from extremely poor families, those unable to leave their homes because of child care responsibilities, or those who have not been successful in gaining entry into the formal sector or overseas employment.

Two of the biggest drawbacks preventing women from setting up their own business, says Indira Senanayake Kulatilake, Chairman of the Women's Chamber of Industries and Commerce, are their lack of knowledge and finances. "Although there are lots of women who would like to start-up their enterprises, collateral retards them.

Women are also not educated enough on issues like industry and labour laws," says Kulatilake. When approaching banks for loans to set-up their businesses, women are at a disadvantage, simply on the grounds that they are women. She says that there is a marked difference between the responses a male and female would get. Jayaweera also speaks of a reduced access to technology, managerial skills and market 'know-how'. Yet, according to Kulatilake, those who are able to overcome these initial setbacks, perform as well, and sometimes even better, than their male counterparts.

The Women's Chamber of Industry and Commerce plays a predominantly advisory role in assisting women in business. One of the main functions of the chamber is to hold seminars to advise women on matters pertaining to business. "We have many professional women, like, doctors, lawyers, high ranking officers from the Department of Income Tax and Customs, who are ever-willing to provide the necessary guidance to women who want to start their own enterprise," says Kulatilake.

The chamber identifies the key needs of the women, and conducts business clinics on these areas. Awareness is paramount. Although there are many women with numerous ideas for their own businesses, only a small percentage comes forward. This is mainly because, at a very basic level, many women do not know what to do next. Their ignorance on the proper procedures translates into thwarted plans.

Kulatilake regrets that the Chamber too is limited in its awareness building largely to urban and city areas. "Almost everything happens in the cities. We are handicapped because of the lack of auditoriums and other facilities in the rural areas," says Kulatilake. However, the Chamber has made it its objective to go out into the villages and harness the potential that exists there.

For this purpose they are working closely with funding agencies like USAID. Rather than compel women to travel to the cities, the Chamber hopes to encourage more women to set-up enterprises in their own villages.

The most popular form of business women engage in is manufacturing of consumer products like food and toys. Once again women face an obstacle in trying to decide on what items to produce, because of the non-existence of a formal buy-back scheme.

Women are averse to fields such as handicrafts, because they have to ensure that their goods are sold. This is the trickiest part of the business. Countries like India provide a sales guarantee to women through an organized buy-back scheme. The Chamber and the Ministry of Women's Affairs are at present collaborating on creating such a buy-back scheme, using the Indian system as a model.

Financial complications faced by women are beginning to be addressed. The interest-free Grameen loan scheme introduced by Lalith Kotalawela has reaped tremendous results. Kulatilake says this scheme has witnessed almost a one hundred percent payback.

This system begins with a small sum of money, with absolutely no collateral. Once this amount has been paid back, the bank or institution begins to loan the individual larger amounts. Yet, Jayaweera says that the loans still remain insufficient for any substantial expansion.

Despite the various drawbacks and obstacles, Kulatilake says that most women are successful in their enterprises. She says the sustainability level of women's enterprises is very high, with even a small portion of these expanding and growing. Women engaged in their own businesses also assist other women by employing them. These other women could be members of their own family or their friends and neighbours.

In a society that has always tended to be male-dominated, men have largely supported such business ventures by women. "Men are glad that women are not solely dependent on them, and the men are also helped financially," says Kulatilake. A number of men are relieved that these women supplement the family income. Kulatilake also says there are instances where the men join in the business. Because, in most cases these enterprises are family affairs, Kulatilake says they help foster stronger bonds between family members, thus creating better families.

Equality in the circumstances between men and women in employment is still a long way away. While progress is being made, there are occasions where the plight of women in employment is regressing.

The issue of women in employment is not black and white, with numerous complexities. Resolving the numerous problems is an arduous task, but work is continuously being done.

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