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Data-driven Change in Workplace Gender Equality (WGE): Trends, Challenges and Opportunities

February 17, 2021 @ 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Background

The Business Coalition for Gender Equality (BCGE) is a coalition of companies committed to promoting gender equality in the workplace in Myanmar. BCGE is led and founded by seven prominent businesses committed to achieving organizational growth and global sustainable development goals (SDGs) through workplace gender equality (WGE) initiatives. BCGE aims to be a center of excellence and a trusted advisor for the advocacy and promotion of workplace gender equality (WGE) and women in leadership and management positions in the private sector in Myanmar. BCGE delivers knowledge, training, and technical services to implement gender equality policies and practices in the workplace. 

Investing in Women (IW) is a multi-country Australian Government initiative in South East Asia that seeks to improve women’s economic participation as employees and as entrepreneurs.  Since 2016, IW has supported large employers from the business community to establish Business Coalitions (BCs) for WGE in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Myanmar. With IW support, BCs work with local firms, using diagnostic tools and technical expertise to support practical improvements in WGE.  As of January 2021, 39 large firms have been supported to achieve the globally-recognized EDGE (Economic Dividends for Gender Equality) certification, using a data-driven methodology for benchmarking gender equality. Four more companies are in the process of EDGE certification. IW and BCs have also adapted a WGEA diagnostic tool to help firms analyze data related to their policies and practices and develop action plans to progress WGE. This WGE assessment tool is called GEARS (Gender Equality Assessment Results and Strategies). 

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) is the agency responsible for promoting and improving gender equality in Australian workplaces. WGEA works collaboratively with employers providing advice, practical tools, and education to help them improve WGE. They also work with employers to help them comply with the reporting requirements under the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012, aiming to encourage measures that will enhance gender equality outcomes. WGEA has collected world-leading data on a variety of workplace gender equality indicators. The analyses of these data are then used to support legislation regarding gender equality, equal opportunity, and pay equity in the Australian workplace. In their annual reports, they have highlighted WGE improvements, such as an increase in employer commitment to promoting flexible work and a decline in the gender pay gap, as well as identifying WGE indicators that are lagging, such as job segregation, access to parental leave, and a lack of gender balance on boards and at the CEO level. 

WGE data collection and reporting are becoming increasingly important. WGE data collection allows companies to set a baseline, track their progress, and make key changes that increase their bottom line. 

Data also allows companies to compare across industry, size, and time, creating competitive tension. Investors track this data – Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores, sustainability reports, and gender equality indices are all used by investors to measure company success and sustainability. In addition, consumers and potential employees want to know how companies perform on equality and D&I measures.  

Sustainability reporting, including data on WGE, is becoming more and more critical for companies and countries around the world. Data helps government and regulators improve policy and regulation around WGE and corporate governance (ex: laws on board diversity and disclosing pay gaps). Data provides information on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) progress to donors and trade partners, creating competitive tension with other countries. Systematic national-level collection of data can play a crucial role in achieving strategic national-level goals.

Objectives

This event will engage the private sector, NGOs, and policymakers around the value of data-driven approaches to improving WGE. BCGE will bring together stakeholders to:

– Provide a deeper understanding of WGE in Australia, the progress made since 2012, and key learnings from WGEA’s experience;

– Generate discussion about WGE data at the national level in Myanmar;

– Explore opportunities for increasing publicly available WGE data in Myanmar; and

– Provide BCGE the opportunity to promote their assessment/data gathering and analysis tools. 

AGENDA

Opening Remarks:

– H.E. Union Minister Dr. Win Myat Aye, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement (TBC)

Welcome Remarks:

– H.E. Andrea Faulkner, Australian Ambassador to Myanmar (TBC)

Keynote Remarks:

– Libby Lyons, Director of Australia’s Workplace Gender Equality

Brief Presentations on WGE, Data-gathering, and Sustainable Business/Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

– Daw Kyawt Kay Thi Win, Country Director of Business Coalition for Gender Equality

Topic: Private Sector Experience in Myanmar

– Vicky Bowman, Director of Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business

Topic: NGOs as Stakeholder in WGE

Panel Discussion: Data-driven change in Workplace Gender Equality (WGE): Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

-Daw Nang Lang Kham, Deputy CEO of Kanbawza Bank Limited

-Daw Win Win Tint, Group CEO, City Holdings Limited

-Dr. Aye Aye San, Director-General, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement

Closing Remarks:

– Daw Nang Lang Kham, Chair of BCGE’s Board of Directors, and Deputy CEO of Kanbawza Bank Limited.


Details

Date:
February 17, 2021
Time:
10:00 am - 12:30 pm