Promoting equal representation of women is not just moral and social issue, it also makes economic sense. A report by the McKinsey Global Institute titled ‘The Power of Parity’ estimates that if women labour force of the world becomes equal to that of the men—not only in terms of participation but also equal in terms of working hours-then the global Gross Domestic Product could increase by $28 trillion or 26 percent by 2025. This is equal to the combined economic output of the US and China today.

Unfortunately, in Asia female labour force participation has been declining over the years. The Asian Development Outlook 2015 points out that the working age women in Asia stood at 56 percent in 1990 but by 2013 it had come down to 49 percent. This scenario is even more disappointing in South Asia. Female workforce participation stands at 36 percent for Bangladesh, 27 for India, 33 for Sri Lanka, and 24 percent for Pakistan.

Nepal surprisingly fares better than other countries in the region. According to the International Labour Organisation, female labour force participation in Nepal stood at 80.1 percent in 2008. Although this is very encouraging, a detailed analysis reveals a grimmer picture; 77 percent of women workforce is involved in agriculture-which is considered a low-return employment sector, according to a report published by the UN Women Nepal titled ‘The progress of women in Nepal 1995-2015’. Moreover, as women are burdened with household work and have less qualification in education and skills, they are mostly employed in informal sectors and do not have well paying jobs in the formal sector. Even those employed within the formal employment sector are not likely to be promoted to decision-making positions thanks to deeply entrenched patriarchy. In addition, women are paid less than their male counterparts for the same job. Owing to such circumstances women are poorer than men in the country.

So even with high female labour force, the women in the country are still reeling under poverty and are not being able to unleash their potential fully. There needs to be targeted programmes to increase women participation in more meaningful and gainful employment sector. While affirmative action will help, organising career counselling sessions and targeted mentorship programmes to promote more women to the decision-making level needs to be undertaken both by the government and non-government sectors. The government could also incentivise hiring of women by the private sector by providing tax deductions. Generating opportunities for higher education through scholarships and imparting technical skills to women in rural areas, particularly among marginalised communities, might also help women get better jobs. Crucially equal pay, regardless of gender as enshrined in the new constitution, needs to be strictly implemented.