Rural women working in agricultural fields are the largest contributors to the informal economy in Pakistan, but they are not acknowledged, counted and protected. These women have the same rights as working women in cities, but in remote areas, there is no recognition of their contribution and rights. These thoughts were expressed by Kashmala Tariq, Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment, at the national launch of a study on women agricultural workers’ rights organized by Awaz-CDS Pakistan.
She also said there is a strong need to implement laws already in plaorganisedmen agricultural workers’ rights as they often earn less than men and are deprived of basic rights and protection. She stressed the need to create awareness among Women Agricultural Workers (WAWs) through mass media and the effective role of local governments in addressing these issues.
The study titled “The Hands That Feed Us: Struggles of Women Agricultural Workers in Pakistan” was conducted by AwazCDS-Pakistan in collaboration with Forum Asia and Bread for the World in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chief Executive AwazCDS-Pakistan Zia-ur-Rehman highlighted in his address that women agricultural workers (WAWs) often earn less than 50 percent of men’s wages. WAWs traditionally face malnutrition, discrimination, violence, and ill-treatment by their partners, including exploitation and sexual harassment. Most of them are married at an early age and forced to work in fields on behalf of in-law families as bonded labourers.
Highlighting the need to carry out this study, Mr Rehman said, “There are several women empowerment studies, but limited research is available on the measurement of empowerment in the agricultural context. Therefore, it was decided to conduct a study to assess, identify and articulate the contributing factors associated with the socio-economic, legal, gender and political empowerment of Women Agriculture Workers (WAW) in Sindh and Punjab Provinces of Pakistan.”
The event centred on a panel discussion moderated by Zia-ur-Rehman and Maryam Amjad, Program Manager AwazCDS-Pakistan, about the issues brought up within the study. The speakers included Dr Shahida Rehmani, Chairperson Women Parliamentary Caucus, Ms. Shandana Gulzar, Ex-Convener of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture; Chairperson of Common Wealth Women Parliamentary Forum, Ms. Mardiya Sultana Member, National Commission for Status of Women, Ms Mahwish Afridi, Head of SDG Program, Hashoo Foundation.
Mr Chaundry Imtiaz Ahmed, Director Agriculture Rahim Yar Khan, Ms Sameena Nazeer, Executive Director PODA, Aftab Alam Khan, Chief Executive Resilient Future International, threw light on the situation of rural women’s rights and how they are deprived of their basic rights.
The findings suggested appropriate measures and recommendations address identified policy and practice level gaps. The study findings and recommendations also highlight the WAW’s right to work, right to safe and secure working conditions, freedoms of assembly and association, right to social security and due to a healthy environment.
Shandana Gulzar, Ex-Convener Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Chairperson Common Wealth Women Parliamentary Forum, said WAW rights are not an issue of social welfare; it is about basic human rights. She highlighted the situation of rural women’s rights and how they are deprived of their basic rights.
Mahwish Afridi, Head of the SDG Program, Hashoo Foundation, said there is a need to empower women agricultural workers by imparting them with the required technical skills to link with the market. They should know their rights and the facilities to acquire and utilise microfinance.
Maryam Amjad, Program Manager AwazCDS Pakistan shared the study’s method, findings and recommendations. She recommended that provincial ministries, district departments, UN and Trade Unions must be involved in ensuring WAW rights by building their capacities and raising their awareness. Mr Debendra Adhikari, Head of South Asia Program Forum Asia, thanked the Participants for their great contributions.