Considering Gender and the WTO Services Negotiations

The objective of this paper is to raise awareness amongst trade negotiators from developing and least developed countries of the inter-relationship between gender and trade in services issues. The context is the negotiations within the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Whilst the purpose of this paper is not to provide specific solutions, key issues are highlighted and suggestions made that require further investigation and discussion in approaching the linkages between gender and GATS. Possible routes forward are captured in the recommendation section of the paper. The analysis of the paper rests on two factors: the critical role of women in economic and human development; and recognition of gender stereotyping as a determinant in the division of labour both in the workplace and in the home. Notions surrounding 'women's work' and 'men's work' continue to contribute to occupational segregation: women form the bulk of employees in calI centers and catering; most architects and engineers are male. Household relations entrust responsibility for the collection of water, childcare, the care of the sick and the elderly, predominantly with women and the girl-child. Gender biases that contribute to the occupational segregation of women and men also result in the clustering of women in lower skilled jobs at lower pay and with lower status than men. Whilst these latter factors can limit women's capacity to respond to macroeconomic change, it enables those responsible for instigating such change- trade negotiators and policy makers - to help manage change. ln managing change, policy makers need to be aware of three things: firstly, women work. Overwhelmingly women work as entrepreneurs and employees in services. Secondly, working women rely on services to enable them to work: equitable access to financial services is key for women entrepreneurs; transport and childcare services are critical to all. Thirdly, in the management of change, policymakers, the international financial institutions, United Nations and suppliers of (re)training services, technical assistance and trade-related capacity building programmes must consider the needs of the target audience including women. This can include issues such as when and where courses take place, the choice of instructor/facilitator and the composition of groups. Managing the impact of trade liberalisation on women is important if national policy objectives, including those set out in the preamble of the Marrakesh Agreements Establishing the WTO, are to be achieved: "Trade should be conducted with a view to raising standards of living (and) ensuring full employment..." This is reiterated in the WTO Ministerial Declaration adopted in Doha. "We recognize the need for aIl our peoples to benefit from the increased opportunities and welfare gains that the multilateral trading system generates" (emphasis added). This is echoed in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially goal 3 that specifically aims to promote gender equality and empower women and in concomitant obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of AlI Forms of Discrimination Against Women. As a starting point, in order to successfully locate women and men within the service sector, this paper sets out a CASE approach (Consultation, Assessment Specific commitments, Evaluation) as a toolkit by which trade negotiators can strengthen their negotiating position, through a more comprehensive understanding of the economic and social demographics within the services sectors in their respective countries. Recommendations are provided that could be introduced to assist women who typically comprise 70 per cent of the services workforce to better contribute to and benefit from, economic growth and development.