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According to the State Statistics Service, the average salary of women is lower than the average salary of men (by 18.6%), and the largest gender gap in the level of wages in Ukraine is observed in the energy sector. According to 2022 data, women on average receive 79.3% of men's wages.

 

To achieve gender equality in the workplace, the UN Global Compact and UN Women developed the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), which became the main topic of training.

 

How was the training

During the training, the participants got acquainted with the main aspects of WEPs and successful cases of their implementation in private companies and business associations, as well as learned about the projects of public organizations to support women.

During the training, the organizers used the gamification approach and offered to play the game "Women IN: Leadership and Business". At the end of each event, participants engaged in networking to establish and develop new partnerships in the field of women's economic empowerment.

The challenges of creating favorable conditions for employees at the workplace and achieving a career-life balance were the most discussed. The issue of using gender-sensitive marketing materials in the work of businesses, business associations and public organizations, as well as their own choice of advertised brands, also caused a stir.

 

Who participated

The training took place in an online format, so both residents of Ukraine and those living abroad could join.

29 people representing business, state and private companies, public organizations and business associations took part in the second wave of training. Kyiv, Odesa, Poltava and Khmelnytskyi regions were the most territorially represented.

The participants represented various sectors of the economy in which they carry out their activities: design and fashion, service services of public organizations and associations, agriculture, IT sphere, hotel business, processing industry, trade, education.

 

What motivated you to participate

Among the main goals of training, the participants named the following:

● expansion of own knowledge and skills regarding implementation of WEPs

● search for new acquaintances to build partnerships and collaborations;

● introduction of effective women's support programs and formation of a corporate culture of equality in the company;

● building an effective business model through the observance of gender equality in production;

● support and promotion of women leaders at all levels of management.

 

What are the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs)

The Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) are a tool that aims to raise business awareness of gender equality, combat gender discrimination in the workplace and, as a result, achieve gender equality. Any company can implement WEPs and monitor progress toward achieving them. And one of the goals of the "Empowering Women in Business" Initiative is to expand the circle of signatories who will undertake and contribute to the support of women and girls during the full-scale Russian aggression and in the subsequent recovery processes.

 

What is the relevance of training

According to Deloitte's Women at Work: Global Perspective 2023 survey, 44% of female respondents reported microaggressions in the workplace to their employer. This is a significant increase compared to 23% in 2022.

At the same time, the survey shows that women who work in organizations that support gender equality are more motivated, have a higher level of well-being and job satisfaction. They also feel a stronger connection with their employers and are much more productive at work. At the same time, organizations that support gender equality help women establish a balance between work and personal life and provide support for career growth.

 

"The total number of signatories of WEPs in Ukraine is currently 26 companies. Our mission is to increase the number of companies that will commit to WEPs and support women in the workplace. For us, it is valuable to involve private companies in the implementation of programs that contribute to the achievement of gender equality and the economic empowerment of women in the workplace," says Iryna Tytarchuk, executive director of the NGO "Ukrainian Center for the Promotion of Investment and Trade".

 

According to UN Women program specialist Halyna Meshcheryakova, it is important to raise the level of awareness of leaders and teams about possible biases that may arise in hiring, evaluation and reward processes, and to develop strategies to prevent them in the workplace: "Thanks to this, we are laying the foundation for the development of a more progressive and mature Ukrainian society. What is necessary, among other things, for post-war reconstruction and general economic development of the country."