Covid Dialogues: Supporting Working Women During Covid-19

Hosted by:
Location:
Live via Zoom | January 21 10:00-11:30 AM EST, 6:00-7:30 PM EAT
A woman working at a store and wearing a protective mask and face shield
Photo: Chadolfski | Shutterstock.com

The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown into sharp focus the importance of workers’ rights and workplace protections globally. Women, in particular, are bearing the brunt of the hardship and are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Join us for a webinar, featuring new research and lessons from policymakers, on workplace protections for women during the pandemic.

As Covid-19 progresses, waves of workers need paid sick leave to recover or care for sick relatives. Women are at a greater risk of job loss as they work in sectors hit hardest by the pandemic. The closure of schools and daycares also burdens women with additional unpaid care and domestic responsibilities. Workplace protections like paid sick leave, childcare accommodations, and flexible work arrangements are more important now than ever. 

Last year, J-PAL launched the Gender and Economic Agency Initiative to support innovative research on strategies to promote women’s work and enhance women’s economic agency. Join us for a discussion on how governments and employers can support workers during this global crisis. What laws and policies were already in place before the crisis, and how have governments adapted? How can employers make the business case to offer workplace protections? Why are such policies critical to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment? 

This webinar will feature new and upcoming research and lessons from policymakers on the topic of workplace protections in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a focus on the gendered implications of these policies. Register to attend the webinar »

 

This event is part of J-PAL's Covid Dialogues series, which features insights from researchers and policymakers on how to respond with evidence to the Covid-19 pandemic’s most critical policy questions.

Speakers

Julia Braunmiller
Private Sector Development Specialist for the World Bank Group

Rachel Heath
Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Washington

Jody Heymann, MD, PhD
Founding Director of the WORLD Policy Analysis Center at University of California-Los Angeles

Josphat Ireri
Assistant Director of Gender, Kenya’s State Department for Gender (Ministry of Public Service and Gender)

Agnes Kariuki
Senior Officer of Sustainability at Safaricom

Mikaela Rabb (Moderator)
Senior Policy Associate at J-PAL