OFA UGIR: Gender equality reduces unemployment and increases the GDP

On November 7, 2023, the International Conference “WOMEN’S ROLE IN ROMANIA’DEVELOPMENT” will take place in Bucharest, an event supported by the Organization of Women Entrepreneurs from the General Union of Industrialists in Romania – OFA UGIR and organized in partnership with the Representation of the European Commission in Romania.

The topics of discussion will be focused on the role of women in society, economy and politics and will directly address, in a pragmatic manner, the current conditions in which women live and work in Romania, but also the perspectives of rapprochement with the European Union media in these respects.

Worrying situation in Romania regarding the status of women in society

The Gender Equality Index (GIE) is an indicator that measures gender equality in the European Union through the lens of the concrete situations in which women and men find themselves. According to IEG, in 2022, Romania was in 26th place out of 27 countries, with an index of 53.7, far from the European average of 68.6 and very far from Sweden, ranked first, with an index of 83.9.

Equal opportunities between men and women are a fundamental value of the European Union. Beyond the concept, it expresses concrete realities of everyday life and can be objectively measured. Regarding private life, women in Romania still have a precarious status, are burdened by domestic responsibilities and subject to domestic violence.

Regarding the professional life of women in Romania, the situation is gratifying and on an upward trend. According to Eurostat, in 2020 women in Romania earned, on average, 97 EUR0 for every 100 euros earned by a male employee, which means a difference of only 3% in salary according to gender, which places us among the countries with the smallest difference.

“Women control 20% of companies and approx. 40% of the Romanian capital, but at the level of companies, men are the ones who get the best positions, sometimes even at the expense of better trained women, and female entrepreneurship advances quite slowly. That is why the OFA-UGIR mission to support women entrepreneurs is a valid one and it manifests itself through support at the level of negotiations with the government but also through platforms for debate and commitment such as the International Conference WOMEN’S ROLE IN ROMANIA’S DEVELOPMENT“, says Mirabela Miron, entrepreneur, president of OFA UGIR.

On the other hand, the representation of Romanian women in public positions leaves much to be desired. Romania ranks last in the EU, with only 11% women among the members of the management boards of large companies, compared to the European average of 25.3%. There is also a poor representation in politics, where only 18% of the members of the Romanian Parliament are women, while the EU average is 29.3%, shows the latest report of the European Commission on equal opportunities between women and men.

The economic benefits of gender equality

“Society is going through significant changes globally, and women still face barriers to achieving equality. Many of the existing structural obstacles have been accentuated by the crises we are going through and the resulting economic consequences. These factors underscore the need to increase women’s capacity and confidence to contribute to building more inclusive and sustainable organizations and societies,” said E.S. Iulia Ramona Chiriac, Head of the European Commission Representation in Romania.

A study by the European Institute for Gender Equality shows that a more equal distribution of opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and the labor market would increase the EU employment rate by 0, 5-0.8 percentage points by 2030 and by 2.1-3.5 percentage points by 2050. In 2050, the European Union would reach an employment rate of almost 80% if substantial improvements are made towards equality gender.

“The ‘Women’s role in the economy’ panel will focus on the essential contribution of women in the development of the Romanian and European economy. By 2050, improving gender equality would increase EU GDP per capita by 6.1-9.6%, equivalent to EUR 1.95-3.15 trillion. The increase would be visible already from 2030, when the GDP per capita would be up to 2% higher than now, according to the European Institute for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men”, emphasizes Ana-Maria Icătoiu, vice-president of OFA UGIR.

For these things to happen, consistent support is needed for the female initiative in Romania, both at the level of employees and at the entrepreneurial or corporate level. OFA-UGIR stands out among non-governmental organizations that support women in the economy by developing partnership networks and offering professional expertise and personal development to women in Romania.

“We want to inspire as many women as possible and help them take on leadership positions. According to a study published by The Peterson Institute for International Economics, companies with more women in leadership positions tend to have better financial performance. Therefore, a greater share of women in decision-making positions is beneficial for the whole society” said Mioara Iofciulescu, vice-president of OFA UGIR, coordinator of the partnership network.

The convergence of efforts to support women is the key point of success in this endeavor. That is why the conference WOMEN’S ROLE IN ROMANIA’S DEVELOPMENT brings together formidable speakers from all fields.

Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and H.E. Ramona Chiriac, Head of the European Commission Representation in Romania will convey their support for women in Romania through pre-recorded video messages.

Among the guests of the conference we mention Natalia Intotero, Minister of Family, Youth and Equal Opportunities, Radu Ștefan Oprea, Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Dr. Teresa Shafer, Dean of Institutional Affairs, Tiffin University, USA, H.E. Ms. Therese Hyden, the Ambassador of Sweden in Romania, Roxana Mînzatu, Secretary of State in the Government of Romania, Monica Anisie, senator, president of the Education Committee of the Romanian Senate, Ramona Strugariu, Member of the European Parliament.