The Importance of Women in Underpinning the Economy in the Crisis

In Mexico, as in other countries around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has entailed a critical challenge for women. The severe impact of this crisis has underscored the profound and prevalent gender inequality that has long been the source of much struggle.

Currently, in Mexico, women have fewer job opportunities than men overall, since many women work in the informal sector or perform jobs that cannot be carried out from home.

As a representative for Swiss companies operating in Mexico, we are firmly committed to gender equality. At SwissCham, we seek to foster new practices that will enable the private sector to establish an optimal employment environment in which the contribution of women will be fundamental to everyday life.

Within this framework, and in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in Mexico, we held the 3rd Swiss Forum on Women Leaders. This third edition of the forum focused on resilience, for the purpose of underscoring the role of women in light of the crisis and new approaches to employment relations and remote work, as well as their role as drivers for economic recovery.

Women leaders from their respective fields participated in the forum: Belén Sanz, representative for UN Women; Angelina Celorio, Director for Latam Fragrances for Givaudan; Graciela Sánchez, Head of Human Resources Latam North for Clariant; Gimena Mondragón, Director for Nescafé Dolce Gusto and Starbucks México at Nestlé México; and Wendee Molina, Plant Director for Dormakaba México.

Topics highlighted in the forum included the impact of gender equality on the resilience of organizations; the importance of closing the gender gap in STEM sectors to ensure the resilience of women in the new era of digitalization and automation; and the role of the private sector in empowering women in the employment sphere and their impact on economic recovery.

The pandemic has brought with it a burden of additional work, both in the realm of employment as well as in the family, affecting women more than men. In light of these circumstances, establishing objectives and commitments at the global level becomes a priority, not just for the private sector but also in government and society as a whole, to better grapple with and balance the implications that arise in labor, finance and well-being as a result of this crisis.

The inclusion of women, with equal job opportunities, also creates more resilient, creative and efficient organizations. Given the foregoing, we will continue to push for more and better practices to benefit women and their development in the fields of employment and finance, as well as family and social life.