ILO country representative to the Philippines Linda Wirth said the reason why more Filipino women are working than Filipino men is because of the availability of jobs and employment opportunities appropriate to their skills.

"The type of work becoming increasingly available in services, call centers, and electronics is often regarded by employers as suitable for women or that women have better skills and attitudes for this type of work," Wirth said.

"Women are also driven by lack of other opportunities to accept working long hours to work more. In addition, overtime often does not draw extra rate of pay driving workers to work even longer," she said.

An ILO study showed that Filipino women work longer in wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants, and domestic work. They also engage in unpaid domestic work and care work aside from their paid jobs.

Wirth said the role of women in the country’s workforce has been progressive as they earn more money for their families which women, more than men, spend on education and better nutrition for their children.

However, she said those women working longer hours may encounter health implications due to overfatigue and exhaustion with consequent negative effects on relationships. (Raymund F. Antonio)