Across the world, women are underrepresented. Globally, fewer than one in four parliamentarians are women. In many Asia–Pacific countries, including Bangladesh, systemic barriers continue to limit women’s political participation. Social norms, structural bias, and unequal access to political networks constrain both candidacy and success. Yet, without women’s meaningful representation in politics and decision-making spaces, gender balance at work is not possible. Upcoming elections highlight this critical juncture: unless parties actively support women candidates, workplace policies that enable equality will remain underdeveloped and inequitable.
It is a direct correlation. Women in Bangladesh face barriers in entering formal employment, remaining in workplaces, and advancing to leadership. Many are concentrated in informal, low-paid, and insecure jobs, often exiting the labour market due to lack of childcare, unsafe commuting, or rigid working arrangements. These workplace realities are shaped by political choices—decisions about budget allocation, labour laws, social protection, and urban safety—made predominantly by male leadership.
The unequal burden of unpaid care work offers a clear illustration. Across the Asia–Pacific, women perform several times more unpaid domestic and care work than men, limiting their ability to sustain careers. Without political advocacy and legislation, unpaid care remains invisible, rarely funded or supported, and workplaces continue to be designed around uninterrupted, male career trajectories.
Countries with stronger female political representation demonstrate the transformative potential of inclusive governance. In Vietnam, women hold around 31 percent of National Assembly seats, which coincides with investment in social services, labour protections, and education, enabling greater female workforce participation. Globally, Rwanda, where women hold over 60 percent of parliamentary seats, illustrates how women legislators can drive policies on healthcare, social protection, and gender-based violence, creating environments where women can engage in formal work. Similarly, the Nordic countries achieved gender-balanced workplaces after securing near-equal political representation, which enabled universal childcare, paid parental leave, and flexible working norms.
For Bangladesh, the message is clear: encouraging and supporting women candidates is not a matter of tokenism; it is a prerequisite for equitable workplaces. When women can shape policy, budget priorities, and legislation, workplaces become safer, more flexible, and more supportive of women’s careers. Political exclusion, on the other hand, perpetuates male-centric policies that leave women’s labour undervalued, unsafe, and precarious.
Women must have genuine influence in decision-making processes. This includes the ability to set agendas, allocate resources, and challenge entrenched norms. Parties and institutions must create pathways for rural and working-class women and women with disabilities to participate meaningfully, ensuring that labour policies reflect the realities of the workforce.
Workplace safety further underscores the stakes. Sexual harassment and abuse remain pervasive barriers to women’s participation. Robust safeguarding laws and enforcement mechanisms require political commitment. Without women in political and oversight roles, these protections are weak or absent, driving women out of leadership pipelines and formal employment.
Gender balance is not only a women’s issue. It is a governance issue, a democratic issue, and an economic imperative. Offices, factories, and public institutions mirror the political environment in which they operate. Achieving workplace gender balance requires women at the top: equality at work cannot be delivered solely from the bottom up.
As Bangladesh approaches elections and considers political reform, promoting women’s candidacy and meaningful participation must be a priority. Without women in decision-making spaces, workplace policies will continue to reflect male experiences and priorities. With women empowered to shape political outcomes, workplaces can be redesigned to ensure dignity, safety, and opportunity for all.
Across the Asia–Pacific and globally, from Vietnam to Rwanda, from the Nordic countries to local communities, experience shows a simple truth: women in politics create the conditions for women at work. Ensuring women can contest, win, and influence policy is not just a political imperative; it is the foundation upon which equitable workplaces are built.
Farah Kabir is country director at ActionAid Bangladesh.
Views expressed in this article are the author's own.
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