Comprising at least half of the population and a substantial and growing share of the work force in each of the APEC economies, women are critical to sustainable economic development in the region. The 1997 APEC Leaders’ Declaration noted the importance of women in economic development. Given their importance in the regional economy, women can and must play a much more active role in APEC. Thus, the theme of this 1998 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Women is "Women in Economic Development and Cooperation in APEC". The Overview Paper on this theme provides the broad context for studies on the sub-themes of Human Resources Development (HRD), Industrial Science and Technology (IST), and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The Overview Paper highlights women’s contributions to the APEC economies, reviews the impact of women on growth and trade and investment liberalization and the impact of trade and investment liberalization on women. Noting the progress already achieved in integrating gender issues into APEC, the Paper identifies the key issues for APEC on Women in Economic Development and Cooperation and, on that basis, draws five major conclusions.

Women contribute to the APEC economies as workers in employment and the informal sector, as entrepreneurs and investors in business, and through their unpaid work. Women’s participation in the labour force has been rising dramatically in the Asia-Pacific region: women now comprise between 32 and 46 per cent of the labour force in individual economies. From the 1980s, women have been providing a large part of the new labour supply in both industrialized and developing economies. In export industries, they have provided as much as 80 per cent of the labour force in some economies. In most comprise a significant share of employment in most sectors. Although not readily distinguished in official statistics, women’s businesses are also a significant and growing force in most APEC economies. Where data are available, women-led businesses have been found to account for 23 to 36 per cent of all businesses, and to be expanding more rapidly than the business sector as a whole. In other economies, the high proportion of women employers and self-employed workers suggests that women are equally important in the business sector. Women are particularly active in the informal sector, which is both a significant part of the total economy in many APEC economies and one that is of increased importance in those most affected by the current economic crisis. Women’s unpaid work forms the basis of the household economy and communities, as well as creating the future workforce. Unrecognized as having economic value and thus largely invisible to policy makers, unpaid work is a significant constraint to women’s capacity to respond to market incentives as workers and as entrepreneurs on an equal basis with men.

The linkages between women and trade and investment liberalization can be seen from two perspectives. The first, is the impact of women on trade and investment liberalization. Women’s increasing labour force participation has enhanced the capacity of APEC economies to engage in and benefit from international trade and investment liberalization. The second perspective focuses on the impact of trade and investment liberalization on women. Trade and investment liberalization and export-oriented growth have created new jobs for large numbers of young women, and women have benefited from the greater autonomy and participation in decision-making that often result from increased economic independence. However, these gains must be balanced against the often negative effects of poor working conditions and low wages on individual health and welfare and their potential impact on domestic health and other social costs. Women in the labour force also continue to be disadvantaged by gender stereotypes. They are often regarded as working only on a short-term basis between school and marriage and as secondary income earners who can readily return to the unpaid household economy in times of unemployment, such as in the current economic crisis. The differential effects of globalization and liberalization on women and men may also result in systematic differences in access to opportunities between businesses owned by women and those owned by men. The traditional barriers to women’s business success, such as family responsibilities that restrict their mobility and lack of access to credit, technologies and information, have a greater impact in a highly-competitive export-oriented market.

Women’s concerns moved onto the main APEC agenda through the APEC Leaders’ Declaration in November 1996 in Subic Philippines, reinforced the following year by the Vancouver Declaration, and several of the APEC working groups have addressed gender issues in their programs. Considerable progress has been made in putting gender and women’s participation on the APEC agenda. Official recognition throughout APEC of gender as a cross-cutting concern that often results in different impacts and opportunities for women and men would further facilitate the full integration of the potential contribution to economic growth and cooperation in APEC of one half of the population of the APEC economies.

Activities and policies affect women and men differently: Due to their specific gender roles and the impact of stereotypes, women may be less able to benefit from the positive opportunities, and more affected by the short-term negative consequences of trade and investment liberalization. Since women are a major part of the labour force, this represents a major challenge to APEC economies.

Lack of data and information on women’s economic roles: This results in a lack of recognition of and support for women’s contributions to their economies. Although most APEC economies now provide sex breakdowns of most individual-level data, routine tabulations and analysis often fail to recognize women’s economic roles in the paid work force. Data on women’s contributions in the informal sector and in unpaid work are generally lacking. Such data gaps contribute to inappropriate decisions that give rise to unforeseen and unintended consequences, to the detriment of all.

Women’s role in SMEs, IST and HRD: Women’s role in business is overlooked in statistics, policy formulation and service delivery in the majority of APEC economies, while women’s role in science and technology is also overlooked due to lack of information and awareness. Although the basic database for HRD is better developed, women’s access to specific areas of education, training and re-training is also inadequately supported due to lack of information. Consequently, both the public and private sectors are failing to capitalize fully on the potential of almost one half of their human resources.

Representation of women in APEC fora: Women are under-represented in virtually all APEC fora and activities. The lack of an official APEC policy to promote women’s equal participation contrasts with the approach of major multilateral bodies, as well as the development assistance and domestic policies of most industrial APEC economies.

1. APEC should encourage individual economies to collect and use more extensive and better quality information on women’s economic roles in, and contributions to, the domestic economy and to international trade and investment liberalization.
2. In order to propose more effective policies that would be sensitive to the different roles and experiences of women and men, gender should be formally recognized as a cross-cutting issue in APEC because all APEC activities potentially have differential implications for women and men. Analysis should be routinely undertaken to identify the differential impact of policies, programs and activities on women and men.
3. Data on women’s participation in APEC activities and processes should be routinely collected and regularly reviewed. Where the representation of women is low, measures should be implemented to increase their participation.
4. A Plan of Action on Gender and APEC should be developed as a follow-up to the Ministerial Meeting on Women to provide specific guidelines to the various APEC bodies on the integration of a gender perspective and women’s active participation in APEC processes, activities and fora.
5. Appropriate mechanisms and criteria should be identified and implemented to review the integration of a gender perspective and women’s active participation in APEC processes, activities and fora and its impact on the attainment of APEC objectives.

Added to web site: 17Sep2002