Published Paper Details:

An exploratory analysis of gender equality and social security in unorganized construction, where gender inequality with precarious work emanates, finds that while the contribution of women to the workforce is high, they are deprived of full rights of social security, making them more economically vulnerable. The study identifies key factors that influence the issue of gender inequality in their cultural norms, lack of awareness, and institutional barriers which limit women's participation in social security systems. Generally, women in construction are typically within informal work with low job security and poor social protection, making them more vulnerable to economic shock and health crises. It is a qualitative and quantitative research study to dwell on the experiences of women working in the unorganized sector, and to shine some light on issues that they face in terms of access to social security. The results reveal wide disparities between the genders with respect to benefits, including health insurance, maternity leaves, and pensions, due to the informal and mostly unrecognized nature of employment engaged by them. But the analysis also discourses policy implications by calling for mainstreaming gender-sensitive approaches within the framework of social security to address women's particular needs in construction. Recommendations consisted of increasing awareness about potential benefits, adopting inclusive policies, and promoting cooperation between relevant government agencies and civil society organizations in promoting women's rights. While complementing the discourse on gender equality and economic empowerment, this study has served to underscore the critical need for gender responsive social security systems that emphasize that equal working-class men and women need equally accessible social protection in all sectors of the unorganized construction industry.