Counting the cost of gender gap in pay

Bangladesh, March 8 -- Is the gender gap in pay on the downward trajectory in Bangladesh? The answer could be 'yes' or 'no.' But this gap is not worse in Bangladesh than that in any other South Asian country. In the Global Gender Pay Gap Report-2017 of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Bangladesh ranked 47th out of 144 countries. Among other countries, the Maldives secured 106th position followed by India at 108, Sri Lanka 109, Nepal 111, Bhutan 124 and Pakistan 143.

Although globally women are paid 20 per cent less than the men get, Bangladesh's woman workforce are enjoying pay parity at the entry level of jobs, according to a report of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Nevertheless, there is a huge pay gap in the informal secto...