Employment Publications

Sep 19, 2021

The Rakorako Peer Learning Series

This report provides an overview Rakorako peer learning series, showcasing the achievements of the participating companies and providing a blueprint for other private sector entities in Fiji and across the Pacific, and illustrating the compelling benefits to businesses if action is taken.

Jul 28, 2021

Workplace responses to Family and Sexual Violence in PNG: Measuring the Business Case

The report presents the results from the first round of research data—which provide a benchmark for measuring the business case for workplace responses. Impact to business will be measured through additional data collection efforts in 2021 and 2022.

Feb 11, 2021

Building safe and resilient workplaces during COVID-19: Bank South Pacific Case Study

This case study outlines the results of Bank of South Pacific’s participation in the Waka Mere Commitment to Action (2017-2019), an initiative to improve business outcomes in Solomon Islands.

Feb 11, 2021

Building safe and resilient workplaces during COVID-19: Solomon Airlines Case Study

This case study outlines the results of Solomon Airlines’ participation in the Waka Mere Commitment to Action (2017-2019), an initiative to improve business outcomes in Solomon Islands.

Feb 8, 2021

Advancing Women's Employment

Why IFC? IFC is the preferred partner for global private sector entities that are at the forefront of leveraging the business case for gender equality. Learn more: Gender-Smart Business Solutions As more women enter the labor market and exert influence as consumers, savvy companies recognize the need to attract and retain more female employees and purchase from women-led companies. IFC’s Gender-Smart Business Solutions program provides clients with the tools and resources to strengthen gender inclusion within their operations, resolve labor issues, increase employee engagement, benefit from inclusive sourcing, and enhance company performance.

English | 2 pages | IFC 2021

Dec 10, 2020

Bridging the Gap: Emerging Private Sector Response and Recovery Measures for Gender Equality amid COVID-19

As COVID-19 widens global gender gaps, IFC and UN Women have partnered to showcase a growing number of companies and organizations around the world that are taking action to ensure the economic inclusion and social well-being of their employees, customers, and suppliers, as well as local communities. This report aims to inform companies around the world on emerging practices and initiatives for supporting women employees, entrepreneurs, and those in value chains amid the pandemic.

English | 34 pages | 2020 IFC & UN Women

Nov 12, 2020

COVID-19 and Gender Equality: Six Actions for the Private Sector

This guidance note recommends six actions that private sector companies can implement to ensure that both women and men can return to economic activities during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and participate equally as leaders, employees, business owners, and consumers.

English | 45 pages | 2020 IFC

Oct 9, 2020

Factsheet: Women in Agribusiness Value Chains

Despite their contributions, women in agriculture face unique challenges that hamper their productivity, in turn weakening rural economies, the businesses that depend on them, and the global food chain. This factsheet presents an overview of IFC’s Women in Agribusiness Value Chains program working with agribusiness clients across the world to help them close gender gaps and realize the benefits of gender inclusion in their value chain.

English | 2 pages | 2020 IFC

Aug 6, 2020

Factsheet: Advancing Women's Employment

As more women enter the labor market and exert influence as consumers, savvy companies recognize the need to attract and retain more female employees and purchase from women-led companies. This factsheet provides an overview of IFC’s Gender-Smart Business Solutions program that provides clients with tools and resources to strengthen gender inclusion within their operations, resolve labor issues, increase employee engagement, benefit from inclusive sourcing, and enhance company performance.

English | 2 pages | 2020 IFC

Aug 3, 2020

Factsheet: Tackling Childcare

Access to good quality, affordable childcare can benefit employees, their children, employers, and economies. This factsheet offers an overview of IFC’s Global Tackling Childcare Advisory program working with companies across regions and sectors to aid the implementation of family-friendly workplace policies.

English | 2 pages | 2020 IFC

Jul 21, 2020

Factsheet: Workplace Responses to Gender-Based Violence

Gender-based violence can impact business operations through workplace bullying and sexual harassment, employees experiencing domestic and sexual violence, and sexual exploitation and abuse connected to the workplace. This factsheet provides an overview of IFC's work addressing gender-based violence.

English | 2 pages | 2020 IFC

Jul 8, 2020

COVID-19 and Gender-Based Violence: Workplace Risks and Responses

This guidance note seeks to inform employers about the heightened risks of gender-based violence as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and outline ways in which employers can address these risks, improve employee and community well-being, and create a safe and resilient workplace.

English | 14 pages | 2020 IFC

Apr 6, 2020

Childcare in the COVID-19 Era: A Guide for Employers

This guidance note, a companion to IFC's Global Guide for Employer-Supported Childcare, outlines ways in which employers can support the care and family needs of their employees during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and fulfill their obligations under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

English | 17 pages | 2020

Nov 26, 2019

Tackling Childcare: The Business Case for Employer-Supported Childcare in Myanmar

The report, Tackling Childcare: The Business Case for Employer-Supported Childcare in Myanmar, was produced by IFC’s Gender Business Group. It contains the findings of the Tackling Childcare Study which found that when companies support their employees to balance their childcare responsibilities with their work obligations, there are many benefits. The findings are intended to provide recommendations for Myanmar businesses on how to better support the needs of working parents and to realize the business benefits of employer-supported childcare.

Nov 18, 2019

Guide for Employer-Supported Childcare

This practical guide for private sector companies addresses various aspects of employer-supported childcare, including quality, financial sustainability, and results measurement. The publication was developed in response to demand for guidance from companies seeking to implement childcare, so they can join a growing number of family-friendly employers. The guide was prepared by the IFC-led Global Tackling Childcare Working Group, composed of more than 30 organizations and the Government of Paraguay.

English | 126 pages | 2019

Nov 4, 2019

Tackling Childcare: The Business Benefits and Challenges of Employer-supported Childcare in Bangladesh

The policy brief presents findings from an IFC-led survey administered to more than 300 employers as well as consultations with more than 75 employees and 40 stakeholders in Bangladesh, including the government, civil society, and care providers, on the benefits, challenges, and solutions for employer-supported childcare in Bangladesh.

Nov 3, 2019

Waka Mere Commitment to Action

More than 6,500 employees working for the biggest companies in Solomon Islands are now benefiting from more equal, supportive and respectful workplaces, with a marked rise in the numbers who feel safe at work, in the wake of a two- year initiative on gender equality. This findings are contained in a report assessing the Waka Mere Commitment to Action, which showed the number of employees who did not feel comfortable or safe at work fell from 25 percent two years ago to just 10 percent.

Jun 24, 2019

Understanding Gender-Based Violence Through the Lens of Haitian Garment Workers

The study explores workers’ experiences with various types of gender-based violence and assesses the impact on the workplace. One of the key findings of this research is that gender-based violence is a daily occurrence in the lives of garment workers impacting their well-being and performance in the workplace.

Jun 14, 2019

Case Study: Metro Markets Creates Jobs and Careers for Women

Metro Markets, a food retailer in Egypt, partnered with IFC to assess its workforce to close gaps between men and women and address some of its business challenges. The workforce assessment kicked off a longer-term initiative to increase the share of women in the company’s workforce. This case study discusses challenges and solutions implemented by the company.

English | 4 pages | 2019

Jun 13, 2019

Case Study: Pakistan Business Council Helps Boost Women's Employment

Over the course of a year, IFC and the Pakistan Business Council produced a series of peer-learning activities and knowledge tools addressing topics such as female employee retention, anti-sexual harassment policies, women in leadership, and the business case for women’s employment. This case study explores the results of this project that reached more than 335 executives from the Pakistan business community, both from PBC member companies and the wider Pakistani private sector.

English | 4 pages | 2019

May 29, 2019

The Benefits and Challenges of a Workplace Crèche: Employer-Supported Childcare in India

The report presents findings from a survey administered to nearly 300 companies in India and from roundtable discussions conducted around the country. It offers recommendations for employers, the government, donors and investors on how to maximize the benefits to employers, employees and their children, as well as the Indian economy.

English | 60 pages | 2019

May 28, 2019

Tackling Childcare: The Business Case for Employer Supported Childcare in Fiji

This study demonstrates the need and appetite for affordable, accessible and quality childcare services among working parents in Fiji. The study finds that each year, businesses and the public sector in Fiji are losing an average of 12.7 workdays per employee due to the responsibilities of working parents. Absenteeism, lateness, low productivity, distraction, exhaustion and stress – this is the struggle of juggling work and being a parent in a country where childcare options for children aged zero to five are limited, unregulated and inaccessible to most of the population.

Mar 11, 2019

Respectful Workplaces: Exploring the Costs of Bullying and Sexual Harassment to Businesses in Myanmar

The report offers business leaders an opportunity to understand the experiences of employees relating to bullying and sexual harassment in Myanmar workplaces. It provides a set of practical recommendations, targeting business leaders, human resource managers, employees and other interested parties to create workplaces that are safe and free from bullying and sexual harassment.

Mar 7, 2019

Making Progress: Sri Lankan Businesses Advance Gender Equality

The SheWorks Sri Lanka partnership was established in March 2018. As the partnership completes its first year, this report captures group-level progress toward realizing SheWorks commitments. SheWorks members are spread across Sri Lanka’s different priority sectors, such as garments and apparel, tourism, information technology, banking and finance. This report consolidates 18 members’ learnings and best practices around the recruitment, retention, and promotion of employees.

English | 47 pages | 2019

Dec 17, 2018

Case Study—Packages Limited. Advancing Gender Diversity through Equal Opportunity Recruitment Practices

Packages Limited, a manufacturing company in Pakistan, conducted an employee engagement survey and revealed the need to ramp up gender diversity efforts. This case study explores the business benefits resulting from the implementation of equal opportunity recruitment practices to increase gender diversity. Between 2016 and 2017, when the practices were first introduced, and 2018, the number of female job applicants for each position doubled.

English | 12 pages | IFC