Economy

South Africa's definition of and goals towards achieving gender equality are guided by a vision of human rights which incorporates acceptance of equal and inalienable rights of all women and men.

The issue of gender equality has been on our agenda since the formation of COSATU. We will always be engaged in relentless efforts to fight discrimination and subordination in the federation, affiliates and in the workplace.

Most women working in the informal sector are home based workers or street vendors.

Funding for micro-finance programmes is set to increase further in the years to come, also with the intention to promote gender policies.

A recent conference on Women's Perspectives in the Labor Market in the Czech Republic touched on a sore nerve: does the job flexibility of ICTs facilitate women working, or does it enable women's exploitation?

The interface between gender, development and democracy is handled competently by first establishing the nexus between gender and development; then elucidating the development and democracy interface; and then, finally, completing the triad by linking all three areas.

Across the EU economy, women continue to earn an average of 15% less than men, according to the European Commission.

There would be a larger representation of black women in the agriculture sector in South Africa.

Access to finance in South Africa is not equal across all groups. Race and gender remain important variables in the lack of access, and black African women are at the bottom of the pile. This fact sheet evaluates the challenges and opportunities to government and financial institutions in addressing this key issue.