Economy Desk: The number of women employees in the bank is constantly increasing. As a result, the share of women is also increasing as compared to men. Now more than 16 percent of the bankers who are coming to work are women. At one time it was less than 10 percent. On the other hand, the tendency of women workers to change jobs or quit their jobs has also decreased. Such information has come up in the report of Bangladesh Bank on gender equality on the banking sector.

According to the data provided by 59 other scheduled banks operating in the country besides Bengal Commercial Bank, the number of manpower in the country’s banks is 1 lakh 83 thousand 203. As of last December, the number of male workers is 1 lakh 54 thousand 628 people. The number of women workers is 26,036. As such, 18.32 percent of the employees in the banks. On the other hand, non-bank financial institutions have 18 percent female officers and employees. 1,015 women work in 34 financial institutions of the country.

The World Economic Forum publishes The Global Gender Gap Report every year on gender inequality in the world. In 2020, Bangladesh topped the list of South Asian countries in reducing inequality. According to the report of the World Economic Forum, in 2020, Bangladesh was ranked 50th out of 153 countries in the world. The report says this has been made possible by increasing opportunities for women’s participation in the workplace and increasing economic benefits. In order to create a conducive working environment for the officers and employees in every bank and financial institution and to establish gender equality in all spheres of the institution, Bangladesh Bank issued a circular on 1st December 2011 to review the Gender Equality Index of the institutions.
According to the report of Bangladesh Bank, 20.82 percent of the employees under the age of 30 in the banks are women. The percentage of women in the age group of 30 to 50 years is 15.6 percent. And among those over 50 years of age, the rate is 7.40 percent. And at the initial stage, there are 15.91 percent women workers. 15.38 percent are in the middle stage. The higher level is 9.16 percent. As seen, the participation of women in the banking sector is higher in the early stages.

According to the report, out of the total female employees working in the bank, 12.40 percent have changed jobs in the last six months of 2020.

According to the report, at present 12.20 percent of the total directors in the banking sector are women. Most of them are women directors in foreign-owned commercial banks. 17.39 percent of the directors of these banks are women. 12.75 percent directors of private banks are women. And in the state bank this rate is 4.6 percent.

Meanwhile, women officers working in banks and financial institutions have introduced various facilities for their employees. Banks occasionally conduct awareness training on gender equality. As a result of these initiatives taken by the banks, women are able to work with ease. Bangladesh Bank also oversees these facilities from time to time.

It is learned that six months maternity leave is valid for women employees working in 59 scheduled banks of the country. 26 banks have set up child day care centers. The 48 scheduled banks have specific policies to stop sexual harassment. However, non-bank financial institutions are lagging far behind in this regard.