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Women’s poverty is fuelled by discrimination in the world of work, limited access to resources and financial assets, and deep-rooted stereotypes that limit women’s participation in education, decent employment, and decision-making, while burdening them with a larger share of unpaid care and domestic work.
Gender equality is a powerful catalyst for reducing poverty and driving sustainable development. By ensuring equal access to opportunities and decision-making for all, societies can create healthier and just economies.
Higher female labour force participation rates can turbocharge economic growth; however, research shows that simply guaranteeing work for women is not enough. Women’s economic inclusion must also ensure access to decent work, equal pay for work of equal value and robust social protection.
Only 61 per cent of prime working-age women are in the labour force, compared to 90.6 per cent of men.  Furthermore, nearly 60 per cent of women worldwide are in the informal economy, a figure that skyrockets to more than 90 per cent in low-income countries. A vast proportion of them hold unstable, low-paid, and unskilled jobs that lack social security nets as domestic workers, construction workers, or seasonal agricultural labourers. Investing in skilled, decent jobs for women has a ripple effect with broader benefits to society that not only promote gender equality but also drive sustainable economic development for all.
Inclusive social and legal protection key to global growth.
With only 26 percent of women covered by full social security systems globally, the lack of support is stark. Discrimination in the world of work traps many women in underpaid and informal jobs, perpetuating poverty. According to the International Labour Organization, women are the most discriminated group in the workforce, also facing higher rate of sexual violence and harassment.

Expanding women's access to formal, decent jobs and to social welfare programmes—such as healthcare, pensions systems that recognize unpaid care work, and full maternity protection—lays the foundation for economic empowerment. It addresses the root causes of inequality while also shielding women from bias, gender-based discrimination, and violence in the workplace.
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Creating a care society rooted in gender equality
Women bear the brunt of most unpaid care and domestic work, spending 2.8 more hours than men on unpaid care. As a result, women and girls have less time and opportunities to access education and paid work, or to participate in social and political life. This in turn keeps them poorer than men. Investing in care services, such as provision of daycare and elderly care, could create almost 300 million jobs.
In 2023, Kazakhstan extended childcare payments for both working and non-working mothers from 1 to 1.5 years and increased social benefits for people with disabilities by 14.5 per cent. This improved support system helped nearly 700,000 parents over the year.
Shifting to sustainable economies that include women
As the world pivots towards renewable energy solutions, women are vastly underrepresented in this sector with just 31 per cent of jobs filled by women . The world’s global south is overwhelmingly affected by the impacts of climate change and women in these regions, and beyond, must be included in the transition towards an inclusive economy that cares for both people and the planet. 

Illustrative image (internet)

In Vietnam, a comprehensive social welfare system needs to be designed with multiple layers to ensure sustainable social welfare, reduce poverty, and promote development. In essence, Viet Nam's social protection system is multi-layered, performing all four functions, specifically the promotion function of the first pillar on employment, minimum income and poverty reduction; prevention of social insurance; provision of social assistance and protection of people through the basic social services system. Thus, Viet Nam's social protection system is multi-layered and quite comprehensive. Viet Nam's social insurance network has many advantages, in terms of impact and flexibility.  Unlike social insurance, which applies the principle of “pay – benefit/go”, HI follows the principle of “sharing”. That is, HI is paid by many people, but few benefit from it. Everyone wants to enjoy SI, but no-one looks forward to using HI cards. Because no one wants to get sick. However, in fact, we cannot avoid being sick sometime during our lifetime.

In terms of HI card holder’s benefits, health insurance is like a protective shield when people get sick.