Recommendations for expansion of employment opportunities for women in the Dominican Republic

This report presents a discussion of the survey, an outline of the DR"s current employment structure with reference to women in the urban labor market, and recommendations for expanding meaningful employment of women. Policy-oriented information was gathered on the female labor force, the present and potential demand for women"s skills, and on the availability of skills training. The authors describe the design and methodology employed in the survey and note the need for technical assistance to complete statistical analysis of the data. Questions for future consideration are raised regarding the project"s human development training component, the restructuring of skills training programs, job placement, sectoral focus, the project"s long-term role, and participant follow-up. While employment in the formal sector of the economy should be expanded, current training and employment strategies should also emphasize the potential role of the informal market as a means of integrating women into the DR economy and into the A.I.D. program. It is specifically recommended that: (1) women"s vocational training be better linked to productive employment opportunities; (2) informal education programs be developed for rural females; (3) small businesswomen be afforded greater access to marketing and accounting training and to credit; (4) new industrial/occupational sectors be created for women; (5) labor intensive industry and business be offered financial incentives to employ more women; (6) development of crops handled by women be encouraged and integrated rural development emphasizing women supported; and (7) rural women be assisted in gaining nonfarm employment by reorienting home activities to the marketplace, providing managerial and credit assistance to aid moves into agribusiness administration, and offering entrepreneurial skills training. Appended are policy recommendations for improving women"s access to credit and examples of successful women"s programs in India and El Salvador.