Women's March!

By Majlinda Bregu

In the calendar of months that come and go without any contradiction, here comes March.
Similar to other months, but also with an increase in propaganda rays on our soil, due to the election campaign.
However, without violating – I have no role – even the most basic dignity that an electoral program, vision and concrete policies should have, March encourages me to return to a topic that is close to my heart: women's empowerment.
According to World Bank data, 53.21% of women in Albania are employed.
This indicator does not fully reflect the economic reality and the challenges that women face.
The average salary of women is still lower than that of men, especially in the industrial production sectors, where women are paid about 25% less even though they have higher levels of education. (Gender Alliance for Development)
65% of informal employment in Albania is made up of women, while men are less engaged in the black market (35%).
54% of women use their savings to start a business, often due to lack of access to credit and other financing.
If we want a stronger economy, we need to increase women's employment and create greater access to property and capital.
Do we have an accurate idea or measurement of women's contribution to the economy?
No!
Today, there is increasing talk everywhere about measuring the real benefits to a country's economy by adding elements that traditional GDP does not provide, such as calculating Female Domestic Product (FDP) which takes into account what GDP does not receive.
-Unpaid
work Childcare, housework and other services performed mainly by women remain outside of official economic calculations.
-Differences in labor sectors
Women are mainly employed in sectors with lower productivity, which affects the accurate assessment of GDP.
Why should the Domestic Product be measured by gender, in this case the Female Domestic Product (FDP) in Albania as well?
Because it would help in the accurate assessment of the economic contribution of women and would serve as a basis for more just and inclusive policies for girls and women.
With the current GDP that Albania has, a projected nominal of 26.13 billion USD (2024), the economic contribution of women (for the formula see IMF and World Bank) is calculated at 13.79 billion USD per year.
To put it a little more simply for those who do not love numbers, - Women in Albania maintain a little more than half of the entire Gross Domestic Product!
Do they benefit as much from economic policies, fiscal incentives, the support system for children and the elderly, access to finance, from the right to property, etc.?!
If at the end of the year we cannot measure how many women are stronger economically and politically, how many of them have escaped violence, or how many women we have helped start a business, then we are talking nonsense.
Empowering women is not only an issue of equality, but also an economic necessity.
So, have a good month!
With more concrete ideas and as few flags of electoral achievements as possible! (A2 Televizion)