Pakistan Human Capital Public Expenditure and Institutional Review - Legal Barriers to Female Labor Force Participation in Pakistan

Jul 19, 2026

Legal Barriers to Female Labor Force Participation in Pakistan reviews how Pakistan’s legal and institutional framework affects women’s ability to enter and remain in the labor market. The report synthesizes existing literature and structured interviews, and examines key constraints across informal and formal employment, including discrimination, employment terms, maternity benefits, occupational safety and health, social security, and women’s representation in labor-law institutions. It also addresses gender-based violence drivers and outlines international best practices and actionable recommendations to increase FLFP.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages37

Reading Time1 h 33 min

Executive Summary

Background

Methodology

Literature Review

Structured Interviews

Women’s Economic Participation

Women Workers in the Informal Economy

Women Workers in the Formal Economy

Women Entrepreneurship

Women’s Property Rights

Gender Based Violence

Sexual Harassment

Domestic Violence

Child Marriage

International Best Practices to Promote FLFP

Conclusion and Recommendations

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Pakistan Human Capital Public Expenditure and Institutional Review (P176014) Legal Barriers to Female Labor Force Participation in Pakistan December 2022 Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................... 0 Abbreviations .............................................................................................................................. 2 Glossary of Terms ........................................................................................................................ 3 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 4 Background ................................................................................................................................. 6 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 8 Literature Review .................................................................................................................... 8 Structured Interviews .............................................................................................................. 9 Final Report ........................................................................................................................... 10 1. Women’s Economic Participation ....................................................................................... 11 1.1. Women Workers in the Informal Economy ................................................................. 11 1.1.1. Agricultural Workers ..................................................................................................................... 12 1.1.2. Home-Based Workers ................................................................................................................... 12 1.1.3. Domestic Workers ........................................................................................................................ 13 1.2. Women Workers in the Formal Economy.................................................................... 15 1.2.1 Non-Discrimination ....................................................................................................................... 15 1.2.2 Fair Terms of Employment and Provision of Facilities .................................................................. 16 1.2.3 Maternity Benefits ........................................................................................................................ 18 1.2.4 Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) ......................................................................................... 19 1.2.5 Social Security ............................................................................................................................... 20 1.2.6 Women Representation in Labour Law Institutions ..................................................................... 21 1.3. Women Entrepreneurship .......................................................................................... 22 1.4. Women’s Property Rights........................................................................................... 24 2. Gender Based Violence ....................................................................................................... 26 2.1 Sexual Harassment..................................................................................................... 27 2.2 Domestic Violence............................................................................................................ 29 2.3 Child Marriage.................................................................................................................. 31 3. International Best Practices to Promote FLFP .........

FAQs

What does the report assess regarding women’s work in Pakistan?

It evaluates legal and institutional barriers shaping women’s economic participation, distinguishing constraints affecting informal and formal employment as well as entrepreneurship and property rights.

Which topics are covered under women’s formal and informal employment?

It covers discrimination, fair employment terms and facilities, maternity benefits, occupational safety and health, social security, and women’s representation in labor-law institutions, alongside specific informal work categories like agricultural, home-based, and domestic work.

How does the report address gender-based violence and labor participation?

It examines key forms of gender-based violence—sexual harassment, domestic violence, and child marriage—linking these issues to broader obstacles to female labor force participation.

Jul 19, 2026

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