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A recent report from the World Bank has revealed startling findings: there is no workplace equality for women anywhere in the world. Contrary to previous estimates, the gender gap in workforce opportunities is far wider than initially thought.

The report, titled "Women, Business, and the Law," sheds light on the critical issues of childcare and safety, which significantly impact women's ability to participate in the labor market.

The study, conducted across 190 countries, indicates that women, on average, have access to only 64% of the legal protections afforded to men. This discrepancy is largely attributed to the lack of supportive frameworks for implementing gender equality laws.

A Growing Gender Gap Worldwide

While legal reforms have been made in many countries, the actual enforcement and implementation of these laws lag behind, with only 40% of necessary systems in place globally.

Notably, closing the gender gap in the workforce could have substantial economic benefits. The report suggests that doing so could increase global GDP by more than 20%, effectively doubling the global growth rate over the next decade. However, progress in this regard has been slow, with reforms stagnating in recent years.

Furthermore, the study highlights disparities in access to childcare and safety measures for women. In many countries, the absence of financial support or tax relief for parents with young children hinders women's ability to work. Additionally, inadequate quality standards for childcare services pose further barriers to women's participation in the workforce.

Urgent Need for Action

The findings underscore the urgent need for action to empower women economically.

Tea Trumbic, the report's lead author, emphasizes the importance of accelerating efforts to reform laws and enact policies that promote gender equality in the workplace. "Increasing women's economic participation is the key to amplifying their voices and shaping decisions that affect them directly," Trumbic said.

Indermit Gill, Chief Economist of the World Bank Group, echoes this sentiment, stressing the potential of women to drive global economic growth. "Closing this gap could raise global gross domestic product by more than 20% - essentially doubling the global growth rate over the next decade-but reforms have slowed to a crawl," Gill emphasized.

Despite some progress, challenges persist, particularly in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa. While countries like Togo have made strides in enacting gender equality laws, implementation remains challenging due to the lack of supportive mechanisms. Moreover, disparities in women's safety and childcare provisions impede progress toward workplace equality.