Employment of women in construction sector

THE EDITOR, Madam:

We heard in the news about the expansion of housing construction is a centrepiece of the manifestos released by the Jamaica Labour Party and the People’s National Party.

The January 2020 STATIN data show that there were 4,200 women, as against 115,600 men, employed in the construction sector.

If construction is to be the engine of growth, there are some questions that need to be addressed. Where does the well-being and creating employment opportunities for women fit in? What reforms, if any, will be implemented to address occupational segregation and employment gap between men and women in the sector, and the wider labour market?

We hope that the next government looks into these issues and address them accordingly.

LINNETTE VASSELL