Theodora Akweley Asiamah
The covid-19 pandemic presented itself as a health shock but eventually resulted in a global economic shock with ramifications in other aspects of life such as education. In order to contain the virus, employees were pushed to work from home and schools were forced to close. The pandemic has impacted men and women differentially in these livelihood aspects. In the labour market, studies reveal a negative impact on the global workforce with a greater impact on women. In this study, the author reviews the differential impact of the pandemic on men and women in the labour market in developing economies. The study focuses on labour market indicators such as working hours, wages and layoffs. The study also examined the differential burden on men and women as a result of working from home and the implications for the future of work. Findings from the review suggest that a greater proportion of women than men experienced a reduction in working hours, wage cuts and job losses. Moreover, the work burden on women increased as a result of care activities and the blurring of work and domestic activities. The study recommends gender-oriented policies in the labour market to ensure sustainability of women employment and work flexibility.