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‘Gender inequality not seen in CNMI workforce’
All over America, women in the workforce are still treated unfairly, either paid less than men or are not given the opportunity to take on higher positions. Fortunately, CNMI women do not face this type of discrimination and are valued in the workforce.
This positive came to light at the 5th Annual Women’s Summit last Monday and Tuesday, with a panelist taking on the current standing of women in the CNMI workforce.
According to Labor Secretary Vicky Benavente, a common issue faced in the United States is gender inequality in the workforce. That means many women in the U.S. are paid less, even if they have the same qualifications as their male counterparts.
The CNMI fortunately, she said, is an exemption because women are paid and treated equally in the workforce and even at home.
“In the CNMI, I don’t think it [inequality in the workforce] is a big problem…women really do get the same pay as men, not like in the States,” she said. “We are incredibly blessed that the women have a voice here…and that’s a really great thing.”
Benavente is extremely happy with the way women are treated in the CNMI workforce.
“We [women] are very much empowered, and we are very much respected in our workforce,” she said.
According to Office of Personnel Management director Sid Seman, 48 percent of the CNMI workforce is composed of women and the remaining 52 percent are men. As far as wages are concerned, Seman said that women are paid the same amount as their male counterparts who have the same qualifications.
“[Women are] pretty much equal to the men. I don’t see a ‘boys club’ that you would normally see in the States where they don’t want the women to be higher than them but I don’t see that here,” he said.
Seman pointed out that women currently fill many of the high positions in the CNMI.
