8/9/2019 Secondary Education Proves to Be a Significant Determinant of Female Labour Participation Rate in Mauritius

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Secondary education proves to be a signifcant determinant o emale labour

participation rate in Mauritius. Our results also reveal that married women in

Mauritius are less likely to enter the labour orce. In act marital status is one

o the most important actors averting them romwork.

setting up o an export-processing one has proved an e!ective catalyst in driving

employment" especially or women

#rade benefts Mauritius as it enhances growth which in turn reduces poverty as

well as gender ine$uality. %omen are more vulnerable to poverty mainly due to

ine$ualities in income" resources" property" education and employment. #his has

thus led to the eminisation o poverty.

&ender mainstreaming is now receiving new impetus. In 'ugust ())*" the

government o Mauritius"

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in collaboration with the +, and the International /abour Organisation" started a

three-year programme titled 0apacity 1uilding or &ender 2$uality and

2mpowerment o %omen. #he programme aimed at an environment that will ensure

the development o policies" legislation" fnancial and economic mechanisms in

Mauritius to promote gender e$uality in social" economic and political spheres as

well as to empower women. 'chievements in gender have so ar included a

substantial increase in the representation o women in parliament. O the

candidates nominated by each ma3or group in the current parliament ollowing the

4uly ())* general elections" 56 were women and 5( o these candidates were

elected 755 directly and 5 woman through the 8best loser9 system:. #his raised the

representation o women in parliament rom *.; per cent" or < women" in the

outgoing parliament" to 5;.5 per cent in the new legislature.

Social expectations can prevent women entrepreneurs rom evolving as they are

expected to ulfl their duties as wie and mother and engage in domestic work

which takes a lot o their time 7#ambunan" ()55:. #hereore lack o time" cultural

belies" a non cooperative partner and gender biases could also be barriers to

women entrepreneurship 7=ehman > =oomi" ()5(:. ?or women to e!ectively

contribute to the economic development there needs to be cultural changes so

that women can manage their responsibilities at home" at work and in the

community

#he government o Mauritius" in an attempt to promote the SM2 sector has set

up a lot o agencies which provide services to entrepreneurs. 'mong these is the

,ational %omen 2ntrepreneur 0ouncil 7,%20: set up in 5@@@ under the aegis o

the Ministry o &ender 2$uality" 0hild evelopment and ?amily %elare to

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promote entrepreneurship among Mauritian women and to empower women

entrepreneurs

Aet" despite the acilities provided" all is not positive or women entrepreneurs.

+nortunately prevailing gender stereotypes and poverty are some o the

obstacles which prevent complete women emancipation. Indeed" a Mauritian

woman entrepreneur has explained how when she started her business" she had

to fght or her rights and to cope with societyBs pre3udice with regards to the

traditional roles o women in society 7Camuth" ()5(:.

'nother challenge or women includes dealing with patriarchal values prevalent

in the Mauritian society. 'lthough women are contributing economically to the

household by working" they are still expected to do most o the household

chores as well as look ater the amily. #hereore" to successully manage both

the personal and proessional sphere" women entrepreneurs also need good

time management and organiational skills 7=ehman > =oomi" ()5(:.

In ()5(" Mauritius ranked ;)th out o 5