Problems of Working Women in the Rural Informal Sector of Punjab (Pakistan), in The Lahore Journal of Economics Vol. 4 No. 2

Ali, K. and Hamid, A.
July - Dec 1999

This paper carries out research in an important but unexplored arena i.e. the rural informal sector and its role in the country's economy. The objective is to analyze the role and contribution of female labor force in the rural informal sector and highlight the problems that they face. The data has been collected through survey method from rural areas of Punjab. Using the ILO definition of informal sector the research suggests that women in the informal sector work as much as those in the formal sector. Due to abject poverty the women have been forced to work where they are exploited. The major problem therefore that they face are economic and not socio- cultural. The paper also presents the suggestions of respondents, which include training and better education. The conclusion drawn is that their contribution to the national economy needs to be recognized and the obstacles removed so as to enable them to play their part in the prosperity and development of the nation.

Key words: Economy, informal sector, female labor force,