Asian development bank

Gender Issues

Unsustainable power supply affects women’s efficiency while performing traditional social roles and creates barriers for working women. Because women typically perform most household and family obligations, they are key consumers of electricity. Unsustainable supply of energy means that women cannot take advantage of labor-saving appliances like washing machines or electric cooking stoves.

Unreliable energy supply also affects women who work at formal jobs. they must manage their job responsibilities when the power is available and also cope with the needs of their household and family. However, providing quality and sustainable electricity supply will not automatically reduce the time women spend on household work unless such interventions

include awareness-raising activities on energy-efficient and labor-saving devices, as well as time use and redistribution of labor within the family.

at the institutional level, women are underrepresented in the energy sector staff, accounting for only about 17% of all Uzbekenergo employees. Given that most of them do not work at higher- grade jobs (e.g., management, engineering, and science), women have not reached the critical mass that would allow them to influence important policy decisions. table 3 shows the gender breakdown of Uzbekenergo JSC staff in 2014–2016.

Table 3: Sex-Disaggregation of Uzbekenergo JSC Staff

(%)

year	Total			Management			Technical staff			Maintenance
	Women	Men	Women		Men	Women		Men	Women		Men
2014	17.2	82.8	23.1		76.9	44.8		55.2	14.7		85.3
2015	16.9	83.1	21.9		78.1	51.3		48.7	14.5		85.5
2016	17	83	20.2		79.8	46.5		53.5	15		85
2017 (Jan–June)			23.3		76.7	12.9		87.1

Source: Ministry of employment and Labor Relations. 2017. Uzbekenergo JSC data. tashkent.

⁶⁹ Uzbekenergo portal. http://www.Uzbekenergo.uz/ru/about/Uzbekenergo/.
⁷⁰ Ministry of employment and Labor Relations. 2017. Uzbekenergo JSC data. tashkent.
20 Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment Update
possible reasons for women’s lower representation might be the lack of necessary education, lack of awareness of potential and available employment options, limited opportunities for skills development, and prevailing stereotypes that regard the energy sector as as high-risk profession not suitable for women.

each entity of Uzbekenergo JSC has its own trade union linked to the Republican Council of trade Union of energy Workers. the trade unions are responsible for for ensuring the general well-being and benefits of employees, and for redressing grievances. Unions also monitor work schedules and service regularity, and organize capacity development workshops.⁷¹ each unit union has a includes a Commission on Women’s Issues, which ensures that the rights of female employees are respected.⁷²

4.