Women were men more likely than men to drop out of the workforce or reduce hours during the pandemic. Sarah Dea/ The National
Women were men more likely than men to drop out of the workforce or reduce hours during the pandemic. Sarah Dea/ The National
Women were men more likely than men to drop out of the workforce or reduce hours during the pandemic. Sarah Dea/ The National
Women were men more likely than men to drop out of the workforce or reduce hours during the pandemic. Sarah Dea/ The National

Women lost income worth $800bn in 2020 amid Covid-19, study shows


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The Covid-19 pandemic had a greater economic impact for women due to over-representation in industries hardest hit by the crisis, according to a report by an international non-profit organisation.

Women around the world lost at least $800 billion in income in 2020, according to estimates by Oxfam International. That’s more than the combined gross domestic product of 98 countries, the $700bn in market capitalisation that Amazon gained in 2020, and the $721.5bn the US government spent in 2020 on defense budget, according to the report.

“This conservative estimate doesn’t even include wages lost by the millions of women working in the informal economy — domestic workers, market vendors and garment workers — who have been sent home or whose hours and wages have been drastically cut,” said Gabriela Bucher, executive director of Oxfam International. “Covid-19 has dealt a striking blow to recent gains for women in the workforce.”

Globally, women lost more than 64 million jobs last year, representing a 5 per cent loss and exceeding 3.9 per cent loss for men, the report said.

They found women more likely than men to drop out of the workforce or reduce hours during the pandemic, largely due to care responsibilities. Even before the crisis, women and girls put in 12.5 billion hours of unpaid care work each day, a contribution to the global economy of at least $10.8 trillion a year, more than three times the size of the global tech industry, it said.

As the global economy recovers from the pandemic, governments around the world should work to build a more equal and inclusive economies, with increased investment in a gender, racial and climate-led recovery, Ms Bucher said.

“A fair and sustainable economic recovery is one that supports women’s employment and unpaid care work through strong social safety nets and vibrant care infrastructures. Recovery from Covid-19 is impossible without women recovering,” she said.

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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
 

The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

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Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.