KOROR, Palau — Palau’s laws on workplace gender equality fall short of international standards, according to a joint report by the government and the International Migration Organization (IMO).
The Legal Gap Analysis of Gender Equality report, released, recommends Palau introduce several legal protections to bridge this gap. These include:
- Right to work and equal pay for equal work: The report found no current law guaranteeing this right.
- Prohibition of discrimination: Discrimination based on sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation in employment is not explicitly prohibited.
- Protection for pregnant workers: The report recommends shielding pregnant women from tasks that could harm their health or the baby’s.
- Parental leave: Neither paid nor unpaid paternity or maternity leave is currently mandated by law.
- Workplace safety: Private sector employees, unlike public sector ones, lack legal protection for health and safety at work.
The report notes the significant disparity in legal protections afforded to public and private sector employees. While government workers enjoy a wider range of rights, those in the private sector “have always no protection under the law or regulations of Palau.”
The report does not mention any ongoing efforts to address the identified gaps. Still, a bill proposed in the last congress, which did not pass, sought to provide new mothers more maternity leave and additional protection for pregnant women, particularly job security during their maternity period.
The IMO and the Palau government jointly recommend these changes to Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) members, the country’s national legislature. Implementing these recommendations would align Palau’s employment laws more closely with international standards and promote fairer working conditions.