COVID-19 lockdown hitting women hardest - survey
A study conducted by 30 researchers from five South African universities has revealed that some two million women have lost their jobs between February and April.
This is out of a total of three million people who are estimated to have lost their jobs.
The study was done through the National Income Dynamics Study, Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (NIDS-CRAM) using 50 call centre agents who interviewed 7 000 people.
On Wednesday, the researchers launch the first wave of their findings.
Professor Nic Spaull from the University of Stellenbosch said the findings are overwhelming.
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"There has been incredibly large job losses over the period February to April. In this period, three million people lost their job representing an 18% decline in employment.
"The third finding is that preexisting inequalities have grown. All authors have found that job losses and income losses have been highly concentrated among those who were disadvantaged in the labour market, to begin with, black Africans, low wage earners, manual labourers and women experiencing the greatest losses," said Spaull.
Professor Daniela Casale from Wits said the lockdown has had a double impact on women.
"Job losses were much greater among women than men. In February accounted for under half of all employment which is 47% but they accounted for a staggering two-thirds of the net job losses that occurred between February and April."
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Casale said women have found themselves having to do most child and home care which made an impact on their ability to get paying jobs or even keep uninterrupted paid work.
The study will continue until December.
